Pope Francis, known for his candid and heartfelt advice, recently called on a group of Dominican nuns to adopt more welcoming attitudes and avoid gossip, which he described as a “poison” to community life.
Speaking to the Union of St. Catherine of Siena of the Missionaries, the 88-year-old pontiff remarked that their solemn expressions, which he jokingly referred to as “vinegar faces,” could deter others from joining the faith.
“Many times in my life, I have encountered nuns with a vinegar face, and this is not friendly,” he said, according to local reports. “This is not something that helps to attract people.”
He urged the sisters to embrace a lifestyle of friendliness and love, reminding them to steer clear of rumors. “Please, distance yourself from gossip,” he pleaded. “Gossip kills, gossip poisons… And to ask this of a woman is heroic but, come on, let’s move forward and no gossip.”
Pope Francis also advised them to speak with everyone except one notable figure: “the Devil.”
“The Devil enters the community, he sees the jealousies, all those things that belong to all humans,” he said. “No dialogue with the Devil, understood? We don’t speak with the Devil.”
The pope concluded by praising the nuns for their work and encouraging them to be “heralds of affability, a gift of the Spirit, and joy, living every encounter with radiant gratitude for the other in their sacred uniqueness.”
This heartfelt appeal reflects Pope Francis’s broader message of creating a more compassionate and approachable Church.