Pope taps outsider as Holy See’s new HR director

April 02, 2026

Pope Leo XIV named Paola Fanelli, who has not previously worked for the Vatican, as the director of the Holy See’s Department of Human Resources.

After her graduation from Bocconi University in Milan in 1989, Fanelli worked for Andersen Consulting (1989-1997), Mediocredito Centrale (1997-1999), Banca di Pescara (1999-2001), Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (BNL, 2001-2003), Advera (BNL Group, 2003-2006), and BNL BNP Paribas (2007-2024), according to her LinkedIn profile.

At BNL BNP Paribas, Fanelli was concurrently head of HR Development and Corporate Social Responsibility (2009-2024) and head of communication for the Pension Fund Group (2015-2024), according to her LinkedIn profile.

Praedicate Evangelium, the 2022 apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia, made the Holy See’s human resources department part of the Secretariat of the Economy (Article 217); previously, its functions were part of the Secretariat of State.

Fanelli has never previously held a position with the Holy See—not even as a member or consultor to a Vatican dicastery, according to the Annuario Pontificio. The Pope’s appointment of an outsider to the position of HR director follows a survey conducted by the Vatican Lay Employees Association that found widespread dissatisfaction in the workplace, with nearly 76% stating that merit and initiative are not rewarded, and over 56% reporting “injustices or humiliating behavior from superiors.”

 

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Further information:

• Rinunce e nomine, 01.04.2026 (Holy See Press Office, 4/1/26)
• Vatican employees report distrust of managers, mistreatment in the workplace (CWN, 1/23/26)