suore

Suore is the Italian word for nuns, female members of Catholic religious institutes who have taken vows and live in communities. The term is widely used in Italy and Italian-speaking contexts to refer to women religious, including both contemplative and active orders.

Formation and vows: Women join an order after discernment, commit to a life of service, and take public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Some communities require temporary vows before permanent ones. They live in convents or monasteries, follow a rule of life, and are governed by leaders within their order.

Activities and life: Active orders engage in education, healthcare, social work, or missionary activity, often serving schools, hospitals, or underserved communities. Contemplative orders emphasize prayer, liturgical devotion, and withdrawal from ordinary work, maintaining a cloistered life. Habits and dress vary by order, but many suore wear a distinctive religious habit or veil as a sign of consecration.

Organization and influence: Each order is led by a superior or abbess, and many communities belong to larger congregations with regional or global structures. Historically, suore have played a major role in education and medical care in Italy and beyond, shaping social and cultural life. In modern times, some communities face aging memberships or closures, while others adapt by expanding outreach, education, or social services, sometimes welcoming lay collaborators to support their missions.