New female president

On the top of the Commission for the Protection of Monuments of the Holy See is new female president.

Elvira Caiano, appointed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, is currently a contract professor at the Faculty of Church History and Cultural Heritage of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

The Permanent Commission for the Protection of the Historic and Artistic Monuments of the Holy See was established by Pius XI on 27 June 1923. As part of the reorganization of the Curia under Saint Paul VI, in 1965 its duties were also extended to the evaluation of loans of works of art owned by the Holy See.

Professor Elvira Cajano,

Born in Parma on May 29, 1955. Cajano would go on to earn a degree in Architecture and a Ph.D. in History, Drawing, and Restoration of Architecture from Rome's La Sapienza University.

The expert, who has held a leadership role at the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape of Umbria, has also taught Theory of Restoration and Conservation at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University and is the author of numerous publications.

In her new role, she succeeds Professor Francesco Buranelli, the former Director of the Vatican Museums, who, since January 2017, has served as President of the Commission.