VATICAN CITY (AP) 鈥� How鈥檚 doing? Can you give him my get-well wishes? Can I speak with him directly?
The nuns who operate the Vatican鈥檚 switchboard are fielding a growing number of calls with questions like that as .
鈥淭hey feel like children waiting to know about their father,鈥� said Sister Anthony, who runs the operation in a spartan office steps away from St. Peter鈥檚. Basilica. 鈥淲e tell them to pray for him.鈥�
The Vatican鈥檚 central number is public 鈥� and the sisters of the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master make sure all who call it get a real person, not the 鈥減ress 1 for English, 2 for Latin鈥� version of the automation that鈥檚 become the norm at major institutions and businesses worldwide.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the Vatican鈥檚 voice 鈥� a voice that despite the digitalization of communications, the Vatican wants to preserve as a human voice,鈥� said Mother Micaela, the order鈥檚 mother superior.
The Pious Disciples sisters are part of the 100-year-old Pauline orders, which are focused on communications, including landmark Catholic publishing operations around the world. In spring 1970, they were called to operate the Vatican switchboard and instructed by the then-mother superior to be 鈥渁 voice that does good because through the phone wire it communicates Christ himself.鈥�
Today, often with headsets over their veils, the sisters cover the phones for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, in front of large monitors that show the incoming call's country of origin. Gendarmes, the Vatican鈥檚 police, take the night shift.
About a dozen sisters hailing from Italy, the Philippines, Poland and elsewhere take calls from around the world, predominantly in Italian, English and Spanish.
Many callers just need to be directed to the right Vatican office or official, and the sisters oblige with the aid of massive yearbooks and directories, as well as a solid knowledge of protocols and a hefty dose of discretion, Sister Anthony said.
Those who call asking for financial help are put through to , which has provided aid recently to victims of war in Ukraine, floods in Brazil, and homelessness in Naples in southern Italy.
On a recent afternoon, standing by her office chair decorated with a flower-embroidered pillow, Sister Gabriella took a call from a priest inquiring about jointly celebrating a Mass with other priests as part of his jubilee pilgrimage. Since 2025 is a , with 32 million pilgrims projected to visit Rome, related calls make up a large part of the 50-70 queries the nuns answer daily.
But then there are callers with questions the sisters can鈥檛 just look up or patch through 鈥� those in distress or angry or hopeless.
鈥淲e never get a call that鈥檚 the same as the previous one,鈥� said Sister Simona, who鈥檚 worked the switchboard for 15 years.
Counseling or comfort
Francis has built a reputation for eschewing formalities 鈥� from his way of dressing to his before 鈥� that projects more parish priest than head of state and leader of a global religion with 1.4 billion followers.
So some callers ask the nuns to just put him on the line.
鈥淧eople of simple faith don鈥檛 understand that the pope cannot speak with everyone,鈥� Sister Gabriella said.
Others need counseling or comfort. The sisters try to provide it within the boundaries of limited time and not being misconstrued as official Vatican spokespeople.
鈥淏ut if I can give consolation or hope, I think that鈥檚 OK,鈥� said Sister Anthony, who came to the Vatican a year ago from her native Philippines, where she was a provincial superior. 鈥淪ome calls are very triggering.鈥�
Among those calling with concerns about the pope recently was a woman who told Sister Anthony that she is Muslim but likes Francis, and wanted to inquire about his health.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 very impressive for me,鈥� the sister recalled, while adding that some callers are far less friendly. 鈥淥thers are angry with the church, so we listen respectfully.鈥�
鈥榃e feel very empowered鈥�
Across the spectrum of callers, the sisters say they鈥檙e particularly happy to provide a woman鈥檚 touch.
鈥淧ope Francis often reminds that the church is a mother,鈥� Mother Micaela said. 鈥淎nd to be this voice, this sensibility, this feminine approach gives a sense of reliability.鈥�
About 1,100 women, religious and lay, work at the Vatican. , even though the priesthood and deaconate 鈥� and thus the majority of the church hierarchy 鈥� .
The switchboard sisters find pride in both their unseen service and the increasing visibility of women at the Vatican.
鈥淔or me it鈥檚 a blessing to be in one community with the pope and serving the universal church,鈥� Sister Anthony said. 鈥淜nowing there are more responsibilities for women, we feel very empowered.鈥�
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Giovanna Dell'orto, The Associated Press
