She said that she had learned of the visitation from Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, the archbishop of Perugia-Città della Pieve, but only when she went to him to have a document signed. The cardinal said he did not know the reasons for the visitation and had simply been informed that it was taking place.
The apostolic visitor was Mother Cristina Ianni of the Poor Clares of Orvieto.
The Monastery of Santa Caterina is a historic building. It was the seat of the Poor Clares as early as the 13th century and was initially dedicated to St. Giuliana (Juliana of Nicomedia). In 1649, with the transfer of the Benedictine nuns of Santa Caterina Vecchia, it took its current name.
After the unification of Italy in the 19th century, part of the monastery was redesigned. First, it served as a match factory. Today, it houses the offices of the Superintendency of Architectural Heritage.
According to Mother Caterina, there is no other explanation for the closure than the refusal of the five remaining sisters to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
She said that, in her view, the possible closure was not due to the small number of nuns, although Pope Francis’ 2016 apostolic constitution Vultum Dei quaerere encourages small monasteries to close or federate.
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