Queen Camilla has voiced her deep admiration for the work of Catholic sisters dedicated to aiding those in conflict, poverty and displacement. Her comments came during a meeting with representatives of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome.
The encounter at Pontifical Beda College followed an ecumenical celebration at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, which the Queen attended with King Charles III during their official visit to the Holy See.
While the King engaged with the seminary's rector and students, the Queen was introduced to six UISG members who recounted their experiences in service to human dignity across different continents.
“I didn’t realise there were so many sisters around the world doing this work,” Queen Camilla said. “It’s remarkable and deeply humbling.”
Her remarks came after Sister Roxanne Schares, the organisation's executive secretary, outlined the scope of UISG's mission to the Queen consort.
Sister Roxanne told the Queen that the organisation brings together more than 1,900 congregational leaders from across 95 countries, and who together represent 600,000 sisters that “live and work in service to the people of God – in schools, hospitals, refugee camps, rural missions, and communities that are often on the margins”.
She described the UISG as “a network of communion and solidarity”, with sisters active in education, healthcare, social work, advocacy and ecological justice. “Our sisters are not enclosed in convents; they are present in the world – accompanying migrants, refugees, trafficked persons and the poor,” she said.
“It’s that faith and perseverance,” Sister Roxanne concluded, “that continues to inspire our mission and our hope.”
During the visit, the sisters presented Queen Camilla with a painting by Sister Sandra De Filippis, depicting wounded yet resilient faces of trafficking survivors, centred on an outstretched hand with a bird poised to fly.
Afterwards, the sisters described the meeting as one of simplicity and mutual respect. Speaking to Vatican News, Sister Roxanne commented: “Moments like this invite us to pause and reflect on our mission – to see where God’s Spirit is leading us. When people like the Queen show interest and concern, it encourages us to continue with renewed energy.”
Queen Camilla has a longstanding personal connection to Roman Catholicism. She married her first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, in a ceremony conducted by a Catholic priest in 1973 (they were divorced in 1995). Their children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, were raised as Catholics, with Laura attending St Mary's Shaftesbury, a Catholic girls' boarding school in Dorset.
Queen Camilla herself remains a member of the Church of England while she has frequently engaged with Catholic communities through family and royal duties.
The International Union of Superiors General traces its origins to 1951, when Pope Pius XII convened superiors general in Rome to foster collaboration among women's religious congregations.
Officially established in 1965 under Pope Paul VI, it has since grown into a vital prophetic voice in the Church, promoting solidarity and addressing global challenges through the witness of consecrated women worldwide.
“It’s incredibly moving to hear what you do,” Queen Camilla told the nuns. “I am humbled by your work and by the strength and courage of those you serve.”
RELATED: King Charles III made Royal Confrater in historic Vatican ceremony
Photo: Queen Camilla during a visit to the Pauline Chapel in Vatican City, Vatican, 23 October 2025 (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
