Three Austrian nuns who gained international attention last year after leaving their care home have visited the Vatican and attended a general audience with Pope Leo XIV.
The nuns initially made headlines in September 2025 after leaving the Goldenstein castle convent south of Salzburg, Austria, where they had been residing.
The circumstances surrounding their initial departure from the convent were widely reported.
Three Austrian nuns who gained international attention last year after leaving their care home have visited the Vatican and attended a general audience with Pope Leo XIV. Sisters Rita, Regina, and Bernadette, aged 81, 86, and 88 respectively, were seen at St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday morning, according to reporting from NPR.
The nuns initially made headlines in September 2025 after leaving the Goldenstein castle convent south of Salzburg, Austria, where they had been residing. Their departure sparked a public outpouring of support, with supporters gathering at the convent in solidarity.
Previous Departure and Public Support
The circumstances surrounding their initial departure from the convent were widely reported. While details regarding the reasons for leaving were not immediately available in the primary sources, the event garnered significant media coverage and public interest. Supporters demonstrated their solidarity by flocking to the convent, highlighting the nuns’ popularity and the public’s concern for their well-being.
Vatican Peter Sister Francisca Battiloro
The nuns’ visit to the Vatican and attendance at the papal audience represent a continuation of their story and a notable event for the trio. The visit occurred after they “broke back into their convent,” as reported by startpage, though the details surrounding this re-entry were not elaborated upon in the available sources.
Pope Francis and Sister Francisca: An Unexpected Encounter
In a separate but related event occurring earlier this month, 94-year-old Sister Francisca Battiloro experienced an unexpected encounter with Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica. Sister Francisca, who has been cloistered for 75 years with the Order of the Visitation, traveled from Naples to Rome to pass through the Holy Door during the Jubilee of the Sick and Healthcare Workers on April 6, 2025.
Peter Sister Francisca Battiloro Naples
According to reporting from Aleteia, Sister Francisca had “asked God, just Him, to meet the Pope,” believing it to be an impossible request. However, her wish was unexpectedly granted when Pope Francis, also in a wheelchair following a recent bout of pneumonia, approached her while she was praying near the tomb of St. Peter.
“I had asked God, just Him, to meet the Pope,” she said. “I thought it was impossible. But instead, He sent him right to me.”
Forget about protocol! Cloistered nuns steal the show when they meet Pope Francis
Sister Francisca Battiloro, via Aleteia
The two shared nearly ten minutes together, with Pope Francis inquiring if she was “one of the nuns from Naples,” referencing a previous encounter ten years prior where a group of Neapolitan cloistered sisters had greeted him during a visit to their cathedral. Sister Francisca was present at that earlier event but had not been able to get close to the Pope.
This recent meeting was described by Sister Francisca as the “greatest surprise of her life.” She expressed gratitude for God’s continued blessings, noting that He had been answering her prayers, even the “small ones.” The encounter occurred as Pope Francis made his first public appearance after being hospitalized with pneumonia, adding to the significance of the moment.
Pope’s Call for Peace and Harmony
In related Vatican news, Pope Francis recently addressed bishops, urging them to be “prophets of peace and harmony” within their dioceses. This message, reported by Google News via the USCCB, underscores the Pope’s ongoing commitment to fostering unity and understanding within the Catholic Church and beyond.
Vatican Google News
While the specific details of the Pope’s address were not available in the primary sources, the emphasis on peace and harmony aligns with his broader pastoral priorities. This call to action comes amidst a complex global landscape, where conflicts and divisions continue to pose significant challenges.
The visits of both the Austrian nuns and Sister Francisca to the Vatican highlight the enduring power of faith and the importance of spiritual connection for individuals across different stages of life. These events offer moments of hope and inspiration, reminding people of the potential for unexpected encounters and the enduring presence of the divine.
