Pope rules any baptized lay Catholic, including women, can head Vatican departments

Pope Francis looks on during a meeting with the ''Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano di Bologna'' and ''Cori della Galassia dell'Antoniano'' choirs at the Vatican, March 19, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday introduced a landmark change allowing any baptized lay Catholic, male or female, to head most departments as part of a new constitution for the Vatican's central administration.

For centuries, the departments have been headed by male clerics, usually cardinals or bishops.