Vaticano: Papa pede renovação profunda às religiosas de clausura, perante crise de vocações

Pope Leo XIV called for a deep renewal among cloistered religious communities during a meeting with the Federation of Capuchin Clarissas Capuchinhas on September 21, 2026. Addressing the decline in vocations, the Pope suggested that shrinking numbers should be viewed as an opportunity to focus on the quality of religious life rather than numerical strength.

The Pope stated that vocations arise from prayer, familiarity with the Gospel, silence, and accepting imperfections rather than from organizational strategies or planned campaigns. He encouraged monasteries to build joyful and lively communities based on authentic relationships instead of fearing a loss of autonomy.

Leo XIV also noted that religious sisters must undergo continuous formation in silence to counter a society characterized by noise and haste. He described the central mission of these orders as a detachment from the world through sobriety and distance, calling them to serve as living and prophetic witnesses of the Gospel through contemplation.