Pope Francis once preached religious leaders and those worshiping should do so with unbridled joy and happiness. It appears nuns from Naples have thrived upon his words, as they rushed the Pope filled with admiration and adoration, nearly knocking the pontiff over. The cloistered nuns stemmed from closed nunneries around the country, and for the first time in many years were allotted to leave their convents for the pope’s Naples visit. Cloistered nuns live their lives in worship to God, and rarely have visitors, if one does visit, they speak through a metal grille within their monastery.
In constant prayer, the nuns dedicate their life to a mission in silence and rarely exhibit public displays. That quickly changed when Pope Francis entered Naples.
In merriment and pure joy, the nuns sat by with giddy smiles. Soon, several surrounded the pope to pass him presents and thank him. Naples Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe was amused at the display, as he urged the sisters to show some restraint. He teased the thrilled nuns by addressing the crowd over the microphone, “Sisters -Later-well would you look at that. And these are the cloistered ones. Just imagine the non-cloistered ones.” Laughter was the response to the Cardinal’s comments. He then concluded, “they are going to eat him! Sisters, sisters!” The nuns finally settled with revered looks upon their faces.
The life of a cloistered nun was shared with the Catholic News Agency when a Mother Superior talked about the sacrifices made by the women, who lived their lives in solemn peace and prayer.
During the pope’s one day Saturday visit in Naples, he visited with priests and other religious leaders. He visited the poorest areas in the country, and those areas gripped by mafia control. There Pope Francis offered prayers and words of kindness and said that “corruption stinks.”
Later, the pope lunched with approximately 100 inmates from a local jail, including gays, transsexuals and those inmates afflicted with illness.
Pope Francis continues to enchant those once soured by the Catholic religion by sending messages of peace, and living a humble lifestyle to help those in need.