Sister Maria Mucci has served her entire religious life at Casa Santa Marta

Pope Francis’s has a much more modest schedule this summer. He has used this extra time in his schedule to surprise a convalescing Daughter of Charity.

Sr. Maria Mucci, 74, had surgery in October. Since then, she has been moved to the infirmary at her congregation’s provincial house which is in Rome. Her entire life in religion has been spent in service. She has served Pope Francis as well as guests in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

Pope Francis stopped for a visit on July 28 at the Regina Mundi House. While at the Regina Mundi House, he greeted all the religious sisters of the Daughters of Charity. He then made his way to the congregation’s chapel. The congregation’s chapel holds a relic of St. John Paul II. Pope Francis venerated the relic.

Rome’s Gemelli Hospital donated St. John Paul II’s bloodstained shirt to the Daughters of Charity. The Polish Pope was shot in the chest while at St. Peter’s Square. The shirt donated to the Daughters of Charity is the shirt that the Pope was wearing on May 13, 1981.

Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, the superior general of the order, posted photos and information about the surprise visit on Facebook.

Sr. Stefania, a Daughter of Charity, is reported to have said to L’Osservatore Romano that Mucci until recently oversaw the kitchen at the Casa Santa Martha. Mucci is reported to have said that “she was proud to be able to personally provide the vegetables for the Holy Father.”

Pope Francis makes surprise visit to ailing nun https://t.co/PTx3EoSgsD — lisa chamblee (@lisachamblee7) July 30, 2019

Sr. Stefania also said that Mucci is infamous in her community for “her intense presence of praying.” After Pope Francis left, Mucci is reported to have said: “My illness made all the Regina Mundi sisters happy that were able to meet the pope!”

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