Pope Leo XIV thanks Benedictine nuns and monks for their prayerful service, calling their faithful work “the work of God” and urging them to persevere.
Newsroom (31/03/2026 Gaudium Press ) In a moving address at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep gratitude to Benedictine monastic communities for their steady and prayerful contribution to the life of the Church. Meeting with three congregations of Benedictine nuns — from the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Subiaco, the Abbey of Saint Mary of the Mount in Cesena, and the Abbey of Saint Scholastica in Bari — as well as a contingent of monks, the Pope described their vocation as a quiet but enduring “work of God.”
“Dear brothers and sisters,” the Pope said, “thank you for the immense and hidden good that you do for the Church, through your offering, your unceasing prayer, your service, and the witness of your lives. Continue this work, which is the ‘work of God.’”
The Holy Father spoke warmly of the Benedictine charism, reflecting on its profound influence not only within cloistered communities but across the entire Church. Drawing on the wisdom of Saint Benedict, he recalled his call to “continually guard the actions of one’s life,” a discipline that forms the heart of the monastic path. Through prayer and the prayerful reading of Scripture, the Pope remarked, Benedictine religious learn to see themselves truthfully — aware of both their weaknesses and the grace that transforms them.
“Scripture,” Pope Leo told the gathering, “should always be the nourishment of your contemplation and of your daily life, so that you can share this transforming experience.” This continual engagement with the Word of God, he added, strengthens consecration and renews the joy of belonging fully to Christ.
The Communal Path to Holiness
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that sanctification in the Benedictine tradition is not a solitary endeavor. A nun’s journey, no matter how fervent or sincere, must remain inseparably communal — rooted in service, fraternity, and Christ-like love. “It is lived out,” he said, “in fraternal service, reflecting Christ’s universal love for the Church and for humanity.”
He encouraged the religious to continue “walking together” in daily life — listening to one another, discerning in community, and remaining united with their local Churches and the wider Benedictine Congregation. Common prayer, mutual support, and shared decision-making, the Pope noted, are vital expressions of unity in the Spirit.
A Witness for a Fragmented World
Turning his attention to the global Church, the Holy Father observed that Benedictine monasticism stands as a countercultural witness in a world “often marked by self-absorption and individualism.” The monastic model, he said, reminds all Christians that mission begins not with activity but with a way of being — rooted in communion, humility, and reverence.
The Pope highlighted the unique vocation of intercession as a cornerstone of cloistered life. In this hidden apostolate, he said, the Word becomes prayer, uniting the faithful with Christ, who eternally intercedes for humanity. He cited the example of the prophetess Anna, who “never left the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer,” recognizing the Messiah through a lifetime of devotion and watchfulness.
Anchored in Love
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV called ongoing formation an essential part of religious life, one that flows from “knowing the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” He praised the sisters and brothers for their fidelity to community, service, and contemplation, urging them to let every monastery be a “school of the service of the Lord.”
Entrusting them to the care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Benedict, Saint Scholastica, and the many Benedictine saints before them, the Pope spoke of his confidence that their commitment continues to nourish the Church quietly but powerfully — one prayer, one act of service, one word of Scripture at a time.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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