Pope encourages Benedictine women religious to be ‘ever more rooted in Christ’

September 14, 2026

Pope Leo XIV encouraged Benedictine women religious to “to be ever more profoundly rooted in Christ, and to be his living and prayerful witness throughout the earth.”

The Pontiff made his remarks on September 12, during an audience in Clementine Hall with participants in a symposium of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (International Communion of Benedictine Women). The network brings together all the institutes of Benedictine nuns and sisters that are part of the Benedictine Confederation.

During his address, Pope Leo recalled his July pilgrimages to Monte Cassino and Subiaco and cited remarks by Pope St. Paul VI and Pope Francis on St. Benedict and his charism.

Pope Leo concluded:

Thank you for your prayer, for your humble and silent presence, for the daily and hidden offering of your lives, and for the spiritual guidance, theological reflection and communal values that you live out and radiate. I encourage you to continue in your consecrated commitment to communion, and I impart to all of you my heartfelt blessing.

 

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Further information:

• Participants at the Symposium of the ‘Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum’ (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 9/12/26)
• Audience with participants in the Symposium of the “Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum” (Holy See Press Office, 9/12/26)
• Pope encourages Benedictine religious to remain rooted in Christ (Vatican News, 9/12/26)