Sister Roxana Rodriguez,
a Salvadorean nun serving in Italy, gave birth to a 7.7 pound baby boy
last week and was as surprised about the news as everyone else.
Shortly after her arrival, however,
doctors began to suspect that her stomach pains were actually labor
pains. She rejected this idea vehemently.
“I did not know I was
pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain and It’s not possible, I’m a nun.”the 31-year-old nun was quoted as
saying at the hospital.
Upon
feeling the acute pain, Sister Roxana was rushed to San Camillo de
Lellis hospital in the town of Rieti, which is 50 miles north of Rome.
“I will definitely take care of my baby because he is a gift of God,” Sister Roxana told social
worker Anna Fontanella. “I called him Francis (photo) in honor of our South
American pope.
However, I am very worried about the commotion that this
has stirred up. They are talking about this, not only in Italy but in my
own country, and I am afraid to return there.”
However, I am very worried about the commotion that this
has stirred up. They are talking about this, not only in Italy but in my
own country, and I am afraid to return there.”
Sister and son are said to both be in good health and doing well.
The other nuns in her covenant were “surprised” to hear of her
pregnancy. The mother superior of her covenant says she “believes the
woman fell to temptation on a trip back home to El Salvador.”
Local pastor Don Fabrizio Borrello told the media that the new mother plans to take care of the baby.
The Bishop of Reiti says he would find it “preferable that she now
lead a secular life with her baby, away from religious institutions” or
in other words, he believes it best that she’s no longer in the
covenant.
Despite this, local diocese are offering the new mom and baby
Frances assistance until their future is decided.
Despite this, local diocese are offering the new mom and baby
Frances assistance until their future is decided.
Hospital personnel, the diocese, and local residents are now collecting donations for the new family.
When a 31 year old woman in Reiti, Italy was rushed to the hospital
this past Wednesday, complaining of stomach pains, no one had any idea
she was pregnant, not even her.
The doctors proved to be right though, and little Francesco (Francis)
was born.
After giving birth, she continued to maintain that she was unaware of the pregnancy.
Source: Agencies
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