Pope Leo XIV received on September 12, 2026, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the participants of the 'Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum' (CIB) Symposium, which celebrates 25 years since its creation in 2001. This linking structure between the different female congregations of the Benedictine Family brings together approximately 13,000 religious women who follow the Rule of St. Benedict.
In his speech, the Pope stated that the efforts of Benedictine nuns and monks to root themselves in Christ and be living and prayerful witnesses constitute "a great sign and a prophetic gift" for society, something he considered especially necessary "in our time, marked by a thirst for authentic life, communion and peace."
Leo XIV also highlighted the importance of the path of communion and coordination initiated by Pope Leo XIII and encouraged by the Second Vatican Council, describing it as an experience of "spiritual synodality that transforms the uniqueness of each person into a treasure for all." He also praised the project that aims to offer new training opportunities specifically dedicated to Benedictine nuns, in Rome and other locations, through digital tools.
The Augustinian Pope recalled his recent pilgrim visits to the monasteries of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica in Subiaco and the Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino, where he prayed and reflected "on the silence and peace" of these sanctuaries, associating them with the Gospel metaphor of a small seed that became a great tree. He thanked the religious women for their prayer, humble and silent presence, daily offering of their lives, and spiritual guidance they provide.
