Vatican City, Jun 1, 2020 / 12:01 pm
Pope Francis sent a letter Monday to women living the vocation of consecrated virginity, exhorting them to be close to suffering people, and to lead them to Christ.
"Be women of mercy, experts in humanity," the pope said in his June 1 message to consecrated virgins around the world.
"Let everything that is happening all around us disturb you: do not close your eyes to it and do not flee from it," he continued. "Be present and sensitive to pain and suffering. Persevere in proclaiming the Gospel, which promises fullness of life for all."
A consecrated virgin is a never-married woman who dedicates her perpetual virginity to God and is set aside as a sacred person who belongs to Christ in the Catholic Church. There are more than 5,000 consecrated virgins worldwide, according to estimates by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.