Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, Monastery in Vatican Gardens, Vatican City
Mater Ecclesiae Monastery is a contemplative religious house in the Vatican Gardens within the walls of Vatican City. The building spans four floors with communal rooms, a chapel, twelve monastic cells, and its own vegetable garden.
John Paul II founded this monastery in 1994 on the site of the former Vatican police administrative building. The papal decision aimed to create a permanent prayer center for contemplative sisters at the heart of the Vatican.
The Poor Clares, Discalced Carmelites, and Benedictines take turns living here in monastic silence, dedicating their days to prayer for the needs of the worldwide Church. The sisters follow their respective rules and maintain their own monastic traditions within this papal institution.
The Governorate of Vatican City State handles all organizational and technical matters related to the daily operation of the monastery. Visitors have no access to this secluded building, as it is reserved exclusively for the resident sisters.
Benedict XVI spent his final years as pope emeritus in this monastery, from 2013 until his death in 2022. His presence made the building the first permanent residence of a retired pope in modern Church history.
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