Pope Francis named two experienced journalists -- including its first female vice director -- to lead the Vatican press office.
Greg Burke, a native of St Louis, succeeds Italian Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, who retires after 10 years as head of the Vatican press office, the Vatican announced on July 11.
Spanish journalist Paloma Garcia Ovejero fills in Burke's spot as vice director, making her the first female to hold that position.
Burke served as special communications adviser in the Vatican's Secretariat of State starting in 2012 before he was named by Pope Francis as the vice director of the press office last December.
