Alessandra Smerilli

Alessandra Smerilli
F.M.A., PhD
Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Assumed office
26 August 2021 (interim)
23 April 2022 (permenent)
Preceded byMsgr. Bruno Marie Duffé
Undersecretary of Faith and Development Sector of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
In office
24 March 2021  26 August 2021
Personal life
Born (1974-11-14) 14 November 1974
Vasto, Italy
NationalityItalian
Alma materRoma Tre University, University of East Anglia, Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences Auxilium
Religious life
ReligionCatholic
OrderSalesian Sisters of Don Bosco F.M.A.
ProfessionEconomist, Professor, Curia Official
Senior posting

Alessandra Smerilli, FMA (born 14 November 1974) is an Italian Catholic economist, academic, and religious sister who serves as the Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the Roman Curia since August 2021. She was the first women to be appointed secretary of a dicastery, the second most senior official of a Curia department after the prefect, which made her the highest ranking woman in the Roman Curia at the time.

Smerilli holds a post-PhD (it. docente) degree in political economy and statistics, obtained from the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences Auxilium. She is a member of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco.