Pope praises cloistered nuns for defying society’s ‘slavery of appearances’

Pope Leo XIV has praised the witness of cloistered nuns, explaining that their “silent and hidden love” enables them to remain free from what he describes as the "slavery" of society’s focus on outward appearances.

Delivered from the Paul VI Audience Hall on 13 November, the Pope made his address during an audience at the Vatican with participants in the Ordinary Federal Assembly of the Federation of Augustinian Monasteries of Italy, reports the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

“In a society so focused on outward appearances, where people sometimes do not hesitate to violate the respect of others and their feelings in pursuit of a spotlight and applause, may your example of silent and hidden love help others to rediscover the value of daily and discreet charity, focused on the substance of loving one another and free from the slavery of appearances,” the Pope said.

Focusing on the contemplative dimension of Augustinian nuns, Pope Leo recalled that their founder St. Augustine reflected in his book Confessions on the joy granted “to those who serve the Lord out of pure love”.

He invited the nuns to embrace “the cloistered life with enthusiasm”, assuring them that this will give them “peace and consolation", as well as give "to those who knock on the doors of your monasteries, a message of hope more eloquent than a thousand words”.

The Pope also highlighted the witness of charity which occurs in the lives of the cloistered Augustinian nuns.

At the end of his address, the Pope emphasised the communal nature of the federation of Augustinian monasteries, noting the “form of association” promoted by Venerable Pius XII and reaffirmed by Pope Francis to foster fraternity among monasteries with the same charism.

“It is a demanding challenge, but one we cannot shy away from, even at the cost of making difficult choices and sacrifices, and overcoming a certain temptation to ‘self-referentiality’ that can sometimes seep into our circles,” the Pope said.

Photo: Pope Leo XIV receives a crocheted doll, depicting him, from nuns after the general audience celebrated in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, 13 August 2025 (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

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