Pope appoints new female director for Vatican Museums

Pope Francis honors his previously voiced intentions to expand the roles of women in the Catholic Church by appointing Barbara Jatta as the new director for the Vatican Museums. Jatta, who has worked with the Vatican since 1996 (in the Vatican Library, overseeing the collection of rare prints) will assume her new position on January 1^st.

The Vatican Museums (54 galleries, spread over 7 kilometers) are some of the most visited art institutions in the world, now receiving around six million visitors per year. This number represents a 40% increase from 2007 – a feat that was accomplished during the tenure of Jatta’s predecessor Antonio Paolucci. Formerly Italy’s culture minister, Paolucci instigated a series of measures (such as lengthening opening hours, and installing new air conditioning and lighting systems) that allowed the Vatican to respond to the high demand of visitors, without compromising the conservancy of the unequaled collection.

The visitor increase in these past years has led to an increase in revenues, which now reach over $300 million a year, with $40 million in profits. This means that Barbara Jatta will be responsible for one of the Vatican’s largest income sources, not to mention some of the most unique works of art in the world. 

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