Queen Camilla ‘Humbled’ by Global Mission of UISG Sisters During Visit to Rome
During her official visit to the Holy See, Queen Camilla met on Thursday with a delegation of women religious from the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) at the Pontifical Beda College. The meeting, intimate, heartfelt, and profoundly moving, highlighted the quiet yet powerful work of Catholic Sisters who dedicate their lives to serving people caught in cycles of conflict, poverty, displacement, and human trafficking worldwide.
A Meeting of Faith and Service
Following an ecumenical prayer service at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, which she attended with King Charles III, Queen Camilla was received by six UISG representatives. These women lead congregations that operate in over 95 countries, representing nearly 600,000 Sisters united in one mission: to bring compassion, education, and justice to the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Introducing the group, Sister Roxanne Schares, UISG Executive Secretary, described the network as “a global family of communion and solidarity.” She explained that their work reaches into “schools, hospitals, refugee camps, and rural missions,” where Sisters “accompany migrants, trafficked persons, and the poor.”
Stories of Hope Amid Despair
Sister Abby presented the Queen with a symbolic painting created by Sister Sandra De Filippis of Talitha Kum. The artwork depicting wounded yet resilient women and children with an outstretched hand releasing a bird embodies the movement’s spirit of transformation. “It reminds us,” she explained, “that even in deep pain, there can be light, beauty, and hope.”
Among the stories shared was one from Sister Abby Avelino, International Coordinator of Talitha Kum, the UISG’s global anti-trafficking initiative. She spoke of accompanying survivors of exploitation, saying, “Our mission is to walk with them from trauma toward healing and freedom. Even in moments of despair, we witness joy and renewal.”
Sr. Roxanne also shared her experience working with refugees in Kenya through the Jesuit Refugee Service. “The refugees I met are pilgrims of hope,” she said. “Their courage and resilience are a powerful witness. They may lose everything, but they never lose faith.”
Queen Camilla’s Words of Admiration
Visibly moved, Queen Camilla praised the Sisters’ dedication and humility. “It’s incredibly moving to hear what you do,” she told them. “I am humbled by your work and by the strength and courage of those you serve. You bring light to some of the darkest places in the world.
She expressed astonishment at the global scale of the UISG’s mission, remarking, “I didn’t realize there were so many Sisters doing this kind of work around the world. It’s remarkable and deeply humbling.”
Faith in Action and the Power of Presence
Reflecting on the meeting, Sister Roxanne described it as “a sharing of God’s Spirit.” She noted that Queen Camilla’s attention and compassion deeply touched the group. “When people like the Queen show genuine concern,” she said, “it strengthens our commitment and renews our energy.”
The Sisters emphasized that their vocation is lived out not only in prayer but through presence in classrooms, hospitals, and frontline missions where hope is fragile but faith endures. “Even in places marked by war or displacement,” Sister Roxanne added, “we meet people whose faith keeps them alive. That faith keeps us going, too.”
Conclusion
Queen Camilla’s encounter with the UISG Sisters offered a rare glimpse into the moral and spiritual depth of global Catholic service. The meeting was less about royalty and more about humanity an acknowledgment of those who labor quietly for dignity and peace. In the words of Sister Roxanne, “Their lives remind us that, for a Christian, there is always hope because God knows when home will be found again.”
