NUNTIATORIA

Pope Leo XIV’s Private Audience with Controversial Dominican Nun

On August 28, 2025, Pope Leo XIV received Sister Lucía Caram, an Argentine-born Dominican nun residing in Spain, in a private audience. Notably, this meeting did not appear in the Vatican’s official bulletin of papal audiences issued by the Holy See Press Office—an omission that has spurred widespread attention¹.

Who is Sister Lucía Caram?
Born in Tucumán, Argentina, in 1966, Sister Caram entered the Dominican Order during Argentina’s military dictatorship. For nearly three decades, she has lived in Manresa, Spain, where she oversees the Fundación Rosa Oriol, aiding hundreds of disadvantaged families, and orchestrates numerous humanitarian efforts—most prominently, multiple aid convoys and rescue missions to Ukraine².

Prior Papal Interaction
Earlier, on March 13, 2024, Sister Caram and members of the Spanish digital outlet Religión Digital were received by Pope Francis in a private audience that was similarly not listed in the Vatican’s daily bulletin³.

Sources Confirming the August 28 Meeting
Reports of the private audience first appeared in The Catholic Herald, which noted its absence from the official Vatican bulletin¹. LifeSiteNews subsequently corroborated the account, citing photographs and references from Spanish Catholic media⁴. The meeting is also recorded in reference works, including recent updates to the biographical entry on Sister Caram².

Why Is Sister Caram Controversial?

• On Mary: In 2017, she questioned the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary—suggesting that Mary and Joseph experienced a “normal couple” relationship—provoking strong rebuke. The Dominican Federation of the Immaculate Conception declared such media activity “not compatible” with her vocation when it “denies the most sacred truths”¹.
• On Homosexuality: In 2023, during a television appearance, she endorsed the blessing of same-sex unions, saying, “God always blesses love… I am nobody to condemn anyone.”¹ ⁵
• Other Dissenting Views: Additional controversial statements include defending abortion rights, endorsing contraception, denying the existence of hell, and urging the Church not to judge those who choose abortion⁴.

Implications of the Audience
The secrecy surrounding the meeting has added a layer of intrigue. While private papal audiences are common, discretion in this case—combined with Sister Caram’s public theological dissent—has led to speculation that Pope Leo XIV may be signaling a more open, Francis-style pastoral approach. LifeSiteNews noted that the audience took place only days before a meeting with Fr. James Martin, SJ, suggesting a deliberate continuity of outreach⁴. 🔝

1. Niwa Limbu, “Pope Leo receives controversial Dominican nun in private audience,” Catholic Herald, 2 September 2025.
2. “Lucía Caram,” Wikipedia entry, revised 2025.
3. Catholic News Agency, “Pope Francis receives controversial Sister Lucía Caram and Religión Digital team,” 14 March 2024.
4. “Pope Leo met with pro-LGBT, pro-abortion nun shortly before Fr. James Martin,” LifeSiteNews, 2 September 2025.
5. “Dominican Nun Speaks in Favor of Homosexuals Being Able to Marry in the Catholic Church,” National Catholic Register, 2023.