religiosi

Religiosi is the Italian term used to refer to members of religious life within the Catholic Church and, more broadly, to those who have taken vows and live in a religious institute under established rules. The word has a gendered form in Italian: religiosi for males and religiose for females, though in common usage the masculine plural can be used to refer to a mixed group as well.

Members of religious life, or religious, typically profess vows such as poverty, chastity, and obedience and live according to a specific constitutive rule or constitutions of their institute. They may be part of contemplative communities that focus on prayer and liturgical life, or active communities engaged in works of education, healthcare, social service, and missions. Religious life can include monks and friars in mendicant, monastic, or canons regular orders, as well as religious women who are nuns or sisters. Some religious institutes are dedicated to a particular apostolate, such as teaching, nursing, or missionary work, while others emphasize contemplative prayer.

Religious life is organized within institutes recognized by the Church, each with its own charism, governance, and degree of autonomy under superiors. Members are distinct from diocesan clergy, who are ordained priests or deacons serving within a geographic diocese rather than belonging to a religious order. The categories and terminology can vary by country and tradition, but the core idea remains: religiosi are consecrated persons who commit to a religious life under vows and community discipline.

In contemporary times, religious communities continue to operate worldwide, though some regions experience declines in membership. Their activities commonly include education, healthcare, social services, and spiritual formation, alongside prayer and liturgical duties.