Pope Leo XIV to Poor Clare nuns: Lack of vocations should renew your commitment

Pope Leo XIV told a delegation of Capuchin Poor Clare nuns on Sept. 21 that a shortage of vocations should serve as a reason to renew their spiritual commitment rather than cause discouragement. During a private audience with the Federation of Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Italy, the pope addressed the decline in community numbers and the potential loss of autonomy facing the order and religious life in Italy.

The pope advised the nuns not to lose hope despite these challenges. He suggested that the decrease in members should encourage them to renew their way of life and increase their spiritual support for those seeking to enter their monasteries. He stated that vocations arise from prayer, silence, familiarity with the Gospel, and a sense of belonging rather than through organized campaigns.

Leo XIV also encouraged the nuns to prioritize ongoing formation and to maintain deep communion with the Church. He urged them to live a cloistered life characterized by silence, which he said can help people in a noisy and hurried society find the space to reflect and discern.