How are Pope Francis doing? Can you give him my good desires? Can I talk directly with her?
Nuns operating the Vatican switchboard are fielding the increasing number of calls with such questions as Pope is hospitalized in Rome.
“They feel that the children are waiting to learn about their father,” Sister Anthony said, who runs the operation in a Spartan office away from St. Peter. Basilica. “We ask them to pray for him.”
The central number of Vatican is public – and ensure the sisters of the sacred disciples of the divine master ensure that everyone calls it a real person, not “Press 1 for English, 2 for Latin, 2 for Latin” 2 “automation versions that have become ideal in major institutions and businesses worldwide.
The order of the order Supreer Mother Mikaella said, “This is the voice of the Vatican – a voice that despite the digitization of communication, the Vatican wants to preserve as a human voice.”
Holy disciple sisters are part of the 100 -year -old polyne orders, focused on communication including landmark Catholic publication operations worldwide. In spring 1970, she was called to operate the Vatican switchboard and was instructed by Superior by the then-mother that she is “a voice that does good because it makes himself communicated to Christ through the wire of the phone.”
Today, often with headset on their veil, sisters cover the phone in front of 12 hours a day, seven days a week, in front of the big monitor, which shows the original country of the upcoming call. The Vatican police, gandmes, takes the night innings.
About a dozen sisters call from around the world from Italy, Philippines, Poland and other places, mainly in Italian, English and Spanish.
Many callers need only to direct the Vatican office or officer, and sisters oblige the year and directions with the help of directors, as well as a solid knowledge of the protocol and a large dose of discretion.
Those who seek financial help are put into the Vatican Almoner’s office, which has recently assisted warfare in Ukraine, floods in Brazil and being homeless in Naples in Southern Italy.
Recently, in one afternoon, stood with a flower-blank pillow standing from the chair of his office, Sister Gabriella took a call from a priest, jointly interrogated to celebrate a mass with other priests as part of his Jubilee pilgrimage. Since the 2025 is a sacred year for the Catholic Church, with 32 million pilgrims estimated to visit Rome, the related calls make a large part of 50–70 questions, which answer the nun daily.
But then there are about to call with questions that sisters cannot just up or patch up – which are crisis or angry or disappointing.
“We never get a call that is similar to the previous one,” Sister Simona said, who worked as a switchboard for 15 years.
Consultation or comfort
Francis has created a reputation to enhance formalities – from the way to live in the poor and marginalized for his personal outreach before being hospitalized – which projects more parish priests than the head and leader of the state of a global religion with 1.4 billion followers.
So some call calls ask only to keep it on the line.
“People of simple belief do not understand that the Pope cannot talk to everyone,” said Sister Gabriella.
Others require consultation or rest. The sisters try to provide it within limited time limitations and do not call it wrong as spokesperson of the official Vatican.
“But if I can console or hope, I think it’s fine,” Sister Anthony said, who came to the Vatican from her original Philippines a year ago, where she was a provincial superior. “Some calls are very triggers.”
There was a recent woman among those who called with concerns about the Pope who told Sister Anthony that she is a Muslim but Francis liked, and wanted to inquire about her health.
“This is very impressive for me,” the sister recalled, while some callers are very few. “Other people are angry with the church, so we listen respectfully.”
‘Feel very strong’
Across the spectrum of the callers, the sisters say they are particularly happy to provide a woman’s touch.
“Pope Francis often reminds that the church is a mother,” said mother Mikaayla. “And for this voice, this sensitivity, this feminine approach gives a sense of reliability.”
About 1,100 women work in religious and late, Vatican. Francis has recently named some top positions, even though priesty and debate – and thus remains mostly men of the church hierarchy.
Switchboard sisters are proud of both their unseen service in the Vatican and the increasing visibility of women.
“It is a blessing to be in a community with the Pope and serve the Universal Church,” said sister Anthony. “Knowing that there are more responsibilities for women, we feel very strong.”
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