Pope Leo appoints Kenya’s Lucy Afandi to Vatican's Development Dicastery

Afandi, who also serves as the Regional Coordinator of Caritas Africa, was among 12 new Consultors of the Dicastery appointed by Pope Leo on August 18, 2026. 

Afandi is the first woman and the youngest person ever to serve as Regional Coordinator of Caritas Africa. 

She earlier worked as Policy and Advocacy Officer for Caritas Africa and also served at Caritas Kenya and Caritas Maralal. Her journey began at the diocesan radio station in Maralal, Samburu County. 

The list is drawn from male and female theologians, canonists, priests, religious, and laypeople with a wealth of pastoral, ecclesial, and professional experience. 

The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is among 15 others set by the Roman Curia, under the catholic church. 

It was established in the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, a major apostolic constitution issued by Pope Francis that took effect on June 5, 2022 

Praedicate Evangelium reordered and reformed the Roman Curia, which is the central administrative body of the Catholic Church.

In line with Praedicate Evangelium, the Consultors of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia are appointed for a five-year term. 

Other consultors appointed alongside Afandi are Rev. Monsignor Peter Klasvogt (Italy), Rev. Francesco Coluccia (Italy), Rev. Emmanuel Katongole (United States of America), Rev. Joseph Jeyaraj Swaminathan, Omer S. Combary (Burkina Faso), Paolo Foglizzo (Italy), Peter G. Kirchschläger (Switzerland), Kathryn A. Koch (United States of America), Jacqueline Remond (Australia), Caren Rodrigues (India) and Clemens Sedmak (United States of America).

Other Dicasteries under the Roman Curia are for Evangelization, Doctrine of the Faith, Service of Charity, the Eastern Churches, Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Causes of Saints, Bishops, the Clergy, Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Laity, the Family and Life, Promoting Christian Unity, Interreligious Dialogue, Culture and Education, Promoting Integral Human Development, Legislative Texts and Communication.