Queen 'incredibly moved' hearing about work of religious sisters

Queen Camilla greets Sr Roxanne Schares, Executive Secretary of the UISG

Source: Vatican Media

Queen Camilla met with a group of women religious from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) in Rome on Thursday, and expressed her deep admiration for their service accompanying people living in conditions of conflict, poverty, and displacement around the world.

The meeting took place at the Pontifical Beda College, following the ecumenical service at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, attended by King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their official visit to the Holy See.

While the King met with the seminary rector and students, the Queen was welcomed by six UISG representatives who shared stories of their work and the mission that unites women religious across continents in the service of human dignity.

At the end of the meeting, the sisters presented Queen Camilla with a symbolic painting created by Sister Sandra De Filippis, a member of Talitha Kum, the UISG's global anti-trafficking network. The painting depicts the wounded yet resilient faces of women and children who have survived human trafficking, at the centre, an outstretched hand with a bird about to fly. It represents both suffering and transformation - a reminder, Sister Abby Avelino, International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, explained, that "even in deep pain, there can be light, beauty, and hope."

The Queen thanked the sisters for the gift and for their stories. "It's incredibly moving to hear what you do," she said. "I am humbled by your work and by the strength and courage of those you serve."

Introducing the group, Sister Roxanne Schares, Executive Secretary of the UISG, outlined the mission and reach of the organisation.

"The International Union of Superiors General brings together more than 1,900 congregational leaders from across 95 countries," she said. "Together, we represent about 600,000 sisters who 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."

Sister Roxanne described the UISG as "a network of communion and solidarity," connecting women religious engaged 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.

Drawing on her own missionary experience, Sister Roxanne recalled her ten years of service in Kenya with the Jesuit Refugee Service. "The refugees I met are truly pilgrims of hope," she said. "They leave their homes in desperate situations, seeking life and protection for their families. Their courage and resilience are a powerful witness."

She recounted meeting a young Rwandan girl, only fourteen years old, who fled with her four-year-old sister after their father and brother disappeared. "They arrived in Nairobi and struggled to survive," she said. "She learned basket weaving and, in time, was referred to the UNHCR. She was later resettled in the United States, completed her studies, and recently sent me a photo of her first child. Her story is a symbol of what hope can achieve."

Among the UISG representatives was Sister Abby, who shared the story of her ministry against human trafficking. "It's more than a mission," she said, "it's a vocation of compassion."

"When I meet women and children who have suffered in body, mind, and spirit, I realise that our mission is to accompany them from trauma toward healing and freedom," she continued. "Even in moments of despair, we witness joy and renewal. Through collaboration, even small gestures can give life and open paths to hope."

She explained that Talitha Kum operates as a global network empowering sisters and young people to raise awareness, prevent trafficking, and support survivors. "The painting we presented to Her Majesty," Sister Abby added, "is a sign of this collaboration - a reminder that together, through faith and solidarity, we can transform suffering into new beginnings."

Other sisters present included Sister Patricia Murray, former UISG Executive Secretary; Sister Esperance Bamiriyo, former Director of the Catholic Health Training Institute of Wau, South Sudan; Sister Monica Joseph, Superior General of the Religious of Jesus and Mary; and Sister Maamalifar Poreku, UISG Executive Co-Secretary.

They all shared stories of salvation, integral development projects, educational initiatives, and environmental efforts aimed at empowering women and young people. The gap between rich and poor keeps growing, the world continues to be fragmented by war, but they all affirmed that their vocation calls them to bring hope where life is most fragile.

Queen Camilla listened intently to each testimony and expressed her admiration for the sisters' commitment. "I didn't realise there were so many sisters around the world doing this work," she said. "It's remarkable and deeply humbling."

The Queen thanked the UISG members for what she described as "work that brings light in dark places" and for their enduring witness of faith and compassion.

The sisters later said that the encounter was marked by simplicity, sincerity, and mutual respect. "The Queen was very moved by the stories," Sister Roxanne said, "and we, in turn, were touched by her attention and her desire to understand our mission."

Speaking to Vatican News after the meeting, Sister Roxanne reflected on the significance of the exchange. "Moments like this invite us to pause and reflect on our mission - to see where God's Spirit is leading us," she said. "When people like the Queen show interest and concern, it encourages us to continue with renewed energy."

She described the meeting as "a sharing of God's Spirit that keeps us going," adding that the sisters' work remains rooted in presence and accompaniment. "Many live lives of simplicity and prayer," she said, "while others serve on the frontlines - in education, health care, peacebuilding, and pastoral outreach."

Recalling again her experience among refugees, Sister Roxanne told the story of a man who had been displaced for 25 years. "I asked him what kept him going," she said. "He told me, 'For a Christian, there is always hope. God knows when I will be able to go home again.' A few weeks later, his ninth daughter was born - and he named her God Knows."

Sister Roxanne concluded: "It's that faith and perseverance, that continues to inspire our mission and our hope."