Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly welcomes Pope Leo’s appointment of Sr Mary Barron to senior Vatican missionary role

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Mary Barron as Adjunct Secretary in the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization and President of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Sister Mary, who serves as the Superior General of the Missionary Congregation of Our Lady of Apostles, becomes the first woman to lead the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Chair of Missio Ireland and the National Mission Council of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, congratulated Sister Mary on the appointment. He noted that her previous international experience will serve her well in this role and described the selection as a great honor for the Irish missionary community and her religious congregation.