Carmen Ros Nortes

Carmen Ros Nortes, NSC (born 20 November 1953) is a Spanish religious sister and former missionary, who currently serves as Undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This is a department of the Roman Curia which is the administrative institution of the Holy See. She was appointed on 23 February 2018 by Pope Francis.^[1] She has been described as one of the highest ranking female officials in the Vatican.^[2]

Ros was born on 20 December 1953 in the Espinardo neighborhood of Murcia, Spain. She joined the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation [es] and made her perpetual vows on 19 January 1986.^[3] The Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation are an order based in Spain who aim to console, and work with the most disadvantaged.^[4]

In Spain, she qualified in Human Sciences and Catechetical Pedagogy and got a degree in Theology specializing in Mariology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty "Marianum" (Rome) in 1985.^[3]

She has served in various offices within her Order and worked as a missionary in South Korea.^[3][5]

On 1 January 1992, she joined the staff of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and worked in several of its departments, including as a teacher in its Studium, its school of theology and law for consecrated life.^[3][6][7]

She was the Congregation's special envoy to the seventh Latin American and Caribbean Encounter for Consecrated Life in Quito, Ecuador, in 2014.^[3]

As undersecretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life her name is on some orders from the Vatican when they need to intervene in religious orders.^[8]