Three elderly nuns in Austria are reportedly closer to securing the right to live out their days in the historic convent they call home, following a dramatic escape from a care home last year. The sisters, all in their eighties and members of the Augustinian order, had been removed from their convent at Schloss Goldenstein castle near Salzburg in 2023, a move they say was against their will.
Their return to the convent last September, aided by former students and supporters, sparked an international dispute with their religious superior, who cited the building’s impracticality for their age and accused them of breaking their vow of obedience. The nuns have argued for their right to remain under the principle of stabilitas loci—a vow of permanence to a religious community.
While the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has not issued a final ruling, plans are now underway for the sisters to travel to Rome within the coming months. They are expected to have a private audience with Pope Leo XIV, who is also an Augustinian. The journey, funded by an anonymous donor and accompanied by medical personnel, is seen as a positive development in their case.
Aides to the nuns stated that Vatican authorities have signaled a principle agreement to let them stay and are working toward a “just, humane, and sustainable solution.” In the meantime, local supporters have provided round-the-clock care at the convent, reinstalling security and accessibility features.
The nuns previously maintained a strong social media presence to highlight their cause but scaled back their online activity late last year as part of an understanding with Vatican officials. They have expressed profound gratitude for public support, stating that without it, they would have been left vulnerable to what they describe as arbitrary treatment by their superior.
A final decision from the Vatican is still pending, but the planned visit to Rome marks a significant step toward resolving the deeply personal standoff.
