Lay economist Dr. Vera Songwe appointed to Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, boosts African participation in Vatican advisory and global development policy

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Dr. Vera Songwe, a Kenyan-born economist and Cameroonian citizen, as an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS), cementing the growing involvement of Africans in Vatican advisory and global policy discussions. The announcement was made public by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Dr. Songwe currently serves as co-chair of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance and brings decades of experience in international economic development. She holds a degree in economics and political science from the University of Michigan, United States, and a doctorate in mathematical economics from the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium.

Her distinguished career includes leadership roles at the World Bank, where she served as National Director for multiple West African countries, and at the International Finance Corporation as Director for West and Central Africa. From 2017 to 2022, Dr. Songwe served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), guiding initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals across the continent.

Dr. Songwe is also the founder and president of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility and a non-resident senior fellow at the Africa Growth Initiative of the Brookings Institution. She has actively participated in the World Economic Forum, contributing to discussions on global economic growth and innovation, and has been recognized for her efforts to strengthen economic resilience and sustainable development across Africa.

The PASS convenes experts worldwide to study pressing social, economic, and political challenges in light of Catholic social teaching. Dr. Songwe’s appointment highlights the increasing recognition of lay expertise and the growing presence of African professionals in Vatican advisory structures.

This appointment also reflects the broader trend under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate to include highly qualified laypersons in key Vatican institutions, strengthening the Church’s engagement with global development, economic policy, and social issues while promoting diverse and inclusive representation.

Dr. Songwe’s inclusion underscores the Vatican’s commitment to integrating African perspectives into global social and economic discourse, further inspiring professional engagement from the continent in Church-led advisory bodies.