They have no voice or vote in the Pope choicebut about 900 superior of the world’s Catholic orders gathered on Monday in Rome to draw the way to follow, a few kilometers from where the Cardinals will meet in a conclave To choose the successor of the Papa Francisco.
sister Mary Barron, president of the group Umbrella Group female religious ordersthe superioras already urged the more than 650 thousand nuns around the world To pray for cardinals to take the correct decision and reflect on how to carry out Francisco’s vision.
“We must be vigilant and make our part to keep the flame of the renewal of the Iglesia”He told the Sisters Assembly, some dressed in normal clothes and others with traditional habits.
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Read too Vatican deficit, the “cursed heritage” that the Pope will receive
The International Union of Superior Generals This week celebrates its plenary assembly, coincidentally at the same time as the conclave, which begins on Wednesday.
The Catholic Church reserves the priesthood to men, so only they will choose the leader of the 1,400 million Catholics in the world. Of the 133 cardinals that are expected to vote in the conclave, 108 were designated by Francisco.
Among those present at the Assembly was sister Nathalie Becquart, appointed by Pope Francis Synod of the bishops of the Vatican In 2021.
Read too Trump criticizes Sheinbaum for rejecting US troops sending; “You are afraid of cartels,” he says
Many saw their appointment, as well as that of sister Raffaella Petrini as president of the State of the city of the Vaticanas a sign that the Catholic, rigidly masculine hierarchy could finally allow women Assume responsibilities of high -level decision making.
Delphine Kalisha, from the sisters of Zambia’s mercy, said he hopes that the new Pope will continue promoting the sisters in leadership positions.
“That has given us hope for women in the church,” Kalisha said.
Read too Secret or excommunication: the oath that all workers of the Vatican prior to the conclave must do
Becquart told The Associated Press that the sisters want “Be better listened to, like the others, be valued.”
“You may be a cardinal or a young sister, we are all called to be protagonists to take Go ahead the mission of the Church”He said.
The orders present at the Assembly are involved in public ministries such as education and health. General superiors from Argentina to Zambia said that it is an essential role in the first line of the social work of the Church, which Francisco He emphasized.
Read too Trump drives self -portedness; will pay a thousand dollars to migrants who self -support
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Barron urged his sister companions, who met for the last time in a General Assembly in 2022to continue hugging Francisco’s vision of a church that listens to all “Daring to dream a future that reflects the unlimited love of God.”
Citing poets Emily Dickinson And Maya Angelou called the religious to meet the needs of the most marginalized in the world.
“Our path may not be clear or conventional, but it is illuminated by the language of hope,” said Barron.
Read too Israel attacks Yemen; Respond to Missile Hutí who hit Tel Aviv
Among the topics discussed in the first work session were wars, migration and trafficking in human beings, the Climate change and the economic inequality.
Several said they expect him to next Pope Francisco continues to approach the marginalized, either in the Vatican or in the impoverished border areas.
Sister Graciela Trivilino de Argentina who, as responsible for Franciscan sisters of Bonlanden in Argentina He has worked with people with addiction for many years, said that the goal is to “bring the gospel to the concrete facts of everyday life.”
(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
In Sicily, sister Maria Agnese Ciarrocco makes a street pastoral with the sisters of the poor of Don Morinello.
“We are all in a climate of challenge,” he said. “Let’s continue waiting for religious life to continue being something that attract people precisely because of our way of working, for our presence.”
Several sisters said that the decline in vocations even in Africa, a continent where Catholicism is strong, is a great concern for the future.
Read too 2025 conclave; Cardinals ready to choose the successor of Pope Francis
“Even our single presence is a testimony that people need,” said Sister Theodosia Baki, from the Tertiary Sisters of San Francisco in Cameroon. His order focuses on the education of girls, as well as health care and refugees in five African countries.
Barron said that, despite the numerous challenges, including problems to achieve visas for missionary work, the contributions of the sisters are increasingly necessary.
“I think that right now in the Church and in the world there are many opportunities for consecrated life to make a difference,” he said.
Join our channel The Universal is already on WhatsApp!, From your mobile device, find out the most relevant news of the day, opinion articles, entertainment, trends and more.
cifl/mgm
