Mary Melone Explained

Honorific Prefix:	Sister
Mary Melone
Honorific Suffix:	S.F.A.
Birth Name:	Maria Domenica Melone
Birth Place:	La Spezia, Italy
Nationality:	Italian
Occupation:	Academic
Rector of the Pontifical University Antonianum
Discipline:	Theology
Sub Discipline:	Medieval theology
Education:	Degree in education and theology
Alma Mater:	Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta Pontifical University Antonianum
Thesis Title:	The Holy Spirit in Richard of St. Victor's 'De Trinitate
Thesis Year:	2002
Workplaces:	Pontifical University Antonianum

Mary Melone, S.F.A. (born 1964) is an Italian Franciscan religious sister and theologian specialising in the life and thought of Saint Anthony of Padua. Since October 2014, she has served as the Rector of the Pontifical University Antonianum in Rome. She was the first woman to head a pontifical university.^{[1] [2]}

Life

Born Maria Domenica Melone, she joined the Franciscan Sisters of Blessed Angela of Foligno (Suore Francescane Angeline in Italian) after graduating from high school. She took her temporary vows in 1986, and professed her perpetual vows in 1991.

Melone has a number of degrees. She has a degree in teaching and philosophy from the Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta, graduating in 1992. She then studied theology at the Pontifical University Antonianum, graduating in 1996. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at the Pontifical University Antonianum in 2001; her doctoral thesis was titled The Holy Spirit in Richard of St. Victor's 'De Trinitate. From 2011 to 2014, Melone was dean of the Department of Theology at the Pontifical University Antonianum.^[3] In 2014, she was elected by the Congregation for Catholic Education as the Rector of the Pontifical University Antonianum. She will serve a three-year term.^[4] She is the first woman to head a pontifical university.^[5] She was installed as rector on 22 October 2014.^{[6] [7]}

Melone has also served as President of the Italian Society for Theological Research.

Pope Francis named her a member of the Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate on 2 August 2016.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Woman appointed rector of a Pontifical University for the first time ever. Vatican Insider. La Stampa. 3 November 2015. 7 March 2014.
2. News: Hafiz. Yasmine. Sister Mary Melone, Franciscan Nun, Will Be First Female Head Of A Pontifical University. 3 November 2015. The Huffington Post. 7 August 2014.
3. Web site: Kim. Shijung. First woman rector of pontifical university in Rome appointed by the Vatican. The World of the Bible. 3 November 2015. 11 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212636/http://www.theworldofthebible.com/exegesis/first-woman-rector-pontifical-university-rome-appointed-vatican/. 4 March 2016. dead.
4. Web site: Vatican appoints first woman rector of pontifical university in Rome. CatholicPhilly.com. 10 July 2014.
5. News: McElwee. Joshua J.. Woman appointed as rector of Pontifical university in Rome. 3 November 2015. National Catholic Reporter. 3 July 2014.
6. Web site: Suor Mary Melone, Rettore Pontificia Università Antonianum in Roma. Assisi OFM. Frati Minori dell'Umbria. 3 November 2015. Italian.
7. The Inauguration of the new Academic Year at the 'Pontifical University Antonianum'. Fraternitas. December 2014. 47. 216. 1. 3 November 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151223235743/http://www.franciscan-friars.org/Fraternities_pdf/FraternitasDec2014.pdf. 23 December 2015.
8. News: McElwee. Joshua J.. Francis institutes commission to study female deacons, appointing gender-balanced membership. 8 August 2016. National Catholic Reporter. 2 August 2016.