Pope Leo XIV appoints Kenyan woman to key Vatican role
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Lucy Afandi Esipila has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV as a consultor to a key Vatican development dicastery
- The Kenyan currently serves as regional coordinator of Caritas Africa and has extensive experience in Catholic development and advocacy
- Afandi was among 12 new consultors appointed to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
Kenyan Catholic development expert Lucy Afandi Esipila has secured a key role at the Vatican after Pope Leo XIV appointed her among new consultors to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Afandi, who serves as the Regional Coordinator of Caritas Africa, was named alongside 11 other consultors appointed by the pope on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
The appointment places the Kenyan among professionals selected to provide expertise and insights on matters requiring particular attention within the Vatican department.
What is Lucy Afandi's new Vatican role?
As a consultor, Afandi will contribute her professional, pastoral and ecclesial expertise to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
According to the dicastery, consultors provide specialised knowledge and opinions to assist in addressing issues within its mandate.
The consultors are selected from a broad range of backgrounds, including theologians, canonists, priests, religious leaders and lay professionals with extensive pastoral, ecclesial and professional experience.
Afandi is currently the regional coordinator of Caritas Africa and previously worked as a Policy and Advocacy Officer for the organisation.
She has also served at Caritas Kenya and Caritas Maralal, with her professional journey beginning at a diocesan radio station in Maralal, Samburu County.
What makes Afandi's appointment significant?
Afandi has made history in her current Caritas Africa position, having become the first woman and youngest person to serve as the organisation's Regional Coordinator.
Her new Vatican appointment adds to her experience in Catholic development, advocacy and humanitarian work and gives her an opportunity to contribute to discussions at the level of the Roman Curia.
The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is one of the departments of the Roman Curia, the central administrative structure of the Catholic Church.
It was established through Pope Francis' Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, which reformed and reorganised the Roman Curia and came into effect on June 5, 2022.
Consultors of the Roman Curia's dicasteries are appointed for five-year terms.
Afandi was appointed alongside Rev. Monsignor Peter Klasvogt of Italy, Rev. Francesco Coluccia of Italy, Rev. Emmanuel Katongole of the United States and Rev. Joseph Jeyaraj Swaminathan.
Others included Omer Combary of Burkina Faso, Paolo Foglizzo of Italy, Peter Kirchschläger of Switzerland, Kathryn Koch of the United States, Jacqueline Remond of Australia, Caren Rodrigues of India and Clemens Sedmak of the United States.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.