The Mater Ecclesiae monastery in the Vatican was the home of Pope Benedict XVI for the 9 years following his resignation. Now, it has returned to its original purpose as a community for cloistered nuns.
At the start of 2024, six nuns moved into the monastery. They are all from Argentina and belong to the Benedictine Order of the Abbey of Santa Scholastica in Buenos Aires. They were invited by a handwritten letter from Pope Francis in October of 2023.
The nuns attended Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on the Feast of the Epiphany and received a special greeting from the Pope.
Welcome from the bottom of my heart. You are going to bring spirituality. Thank you very much.
The Mater Ecclesiae monastery was created in 1994 by Pope St. John Paul II as a “praying presence” to “support the Holy Father in his care for the whole Church.” According to the monastery's legislation, the religious orders are rotated every five years.
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