Kenyan Lucy Afandi appointed consultor to Vatican dicastery by Pope Leo XIV

Afandi, who serves as the regional coordinator of Caritas Africa, was among 12 new consultors named on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. In this role, she will provide professional, pastoral, and ecclesial expertise to the Vatican department. Consultors offer specialized knowledge and opinions to assist the dicastery in addressing issues within its mandate and are appointed for five-year terms.

Afandi's experience includes her current position at Caritas Africa, where she is the first woman and youngest person to serve as Regional Coordinator, as well as previous roles at Caritas Kenya and Caritas Maralal. Her appointment allows her to contribute to discussions within the Roman Curia, the central administrative structure of the Catholic Church.