# Pope urges nuns: prayer builds vocations, not campaigns

> Pope Leo XIV tells Poor Clare nuns that religious vocations grow from community prayer and welcome, not organizational strategies.
- Title: Pope urges nuns: prayer builds vocations, not campaigns
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV tells Poor Clare nuns that religious vocations grow from community prayer and welcome, not organizational strategies. Vocations emerge from…
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, poor clare nuns, capuchin, italy, religious vocations, contemplative prayer, religious formation, catholic church, st. clare, gospel, religion, world
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-09/pope-leo-xiv-federation-capuchin-poor-clare-nuns-italy.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-09-21T09:24:41.525+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, poor clare nuns, capuchin, italy, religious vocations, contemplative prayer, religious formation, catholic church, st. clare, gospel, religion, world
## Pope meets Poor Clare nuns in Italy
Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation from the Federation of Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns of Italy on Monday to discuss their spiritual mission and formation.
## Living a life worthy of calling
The Pope encouraged the nuns to live faithfully through contemplative prayer, poverty, and complete adherence to the Gospel, reflecting on St. Paul's invitation to lead a worthy life.
## Fewer vocations demand spiritual renewal
The Pope said declining religious vocations should not make communities turn inward, but instead offer a chance to rediscover the quality of spiritual life and strengthen welcome for those seeking God.

> Vocations are not born from the application of organizational strategies or carefully devised campaigns, but from prayer, familiarity with the Gospel, silence, the ability to welcome one another with our imperfections, and a sense of belonging to a whole that creates unity.
## Prayer and welcome birth vocations
Vocations grow from prayer, Gospel familiarity, silence, and authentic welcome with imperfections, not from marketing campaigns or organizational tactics.
## Formation for contemplative witness
Religious sisters must be formed for cloistered life in deep communion, creating silence and spaces for discernment in a world dominated by haste and noise.
## Radical witness to Gospel values
Poor Clares must live the Gospel through radical detachment from possessions, obedience, and simplicity, offering a sign of faithfulness in a globalized world that has lost the ability to put down roots.
## Key takeaway

Vocations emerge from authentic spiritual community, prayer, and genuine welcome rather than marketing tactics or strategic planning.