Nov. 21 (UPI) — Pope Leo XIV has changed a Vatican law to now allow women and non-cardinals to lead the Vatican City administration after Pope Francis first appointed a woman for the position in November.

Francis appointed Italian Sister Raffaella Petrini, 52, for the position of secretary-general of the Vatican governorate of the Vatican, but because of a 2023 law that only allowed cardinals to have the position, there have been legal issues with her appointment. Leo issued a motu proprio, a Vatican official document, that changed the law’s language on Friday.

In her position, Petrini oversees administrative operations such as the Vatican museums, post office, budgets, health care and police. She is the first woman in the position and the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican.

Petrini wasn’t invited to give the economic status report of the city-state to the meetings of cardinals before the May conclave began. Only cardinals are allowed in those meetings, but the report would normally be given by the president of the Vatican administration.

The new wording rectifies that discrepancy.

Leo changed Article 8 n. 1 of the Vatican’s Fundamental Law, Vatican News reported. It had said, “The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State is composed of Cardinals, including the President, and of other members appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.”

It now says, “The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals and of other members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.”

With the change, “other members,” such as lay men and women, can be the president.

“This form of shared responsibility makes it appropriate to consolidate certain solutions that have been developed so far in response to governance needs that are proving increasingly complex and pressing,” Leo wrote.

The motu proprio was signed on Wednesday but published Friday. The change was applied immediately.