By Victoria Cardiel
Vatican City, Apr 8, 2025 / 08:00 am
For Sister Idília María Moreira G. Carneiro, superior general of the Hospitaller Sisters, illness is not just a diagnosis or a curse to be avoided at all costs but a privileged place to encounter God.
“For us, the sick are like the theological place where God speaks to us and where we also speak about God and to God,” she explained in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.
“We are a congregation whose heart and soul is mercy,” she added.
Since its founding in 1881 in Spain, this congregation has been a refuge of tenderness for the world’s outcasts, especially those suffering from mental illness.
With a presence in more than 25 countries, the nuns serve nearly 400,000 people each year, and their mission is nourished by the certainty that Christ is on the other side of pain.
“When the meaning of life seems to fade, only God can imprint that light of hope,” Sister Idília assured.
There is no superficial idealization of illness in her words, only a total and unconditional surrender to the pain of others until it becomes one’s own.
Meet Sister Idília, a remarkable woman whose compassion knows no bounds. Born in Mozambique in 1966, her petite figure and simple demeanor belie the immense strength of her heart. Sister Idília believes that in caring for the sick, we encounter the living presence of Christ. She sees each patient as a challenge to deepen her faith and a confirmation of her dedication to serving others.
For Sister Idília, her vocation is not just a job, but a calling that she embraces wholeheartedly. She finds meaning in her relationship with Jesus, in the bonds she shares with her community, and most of all, in her work with the sick. In particular, she feels a special connection to those suffering from mental illness, whom she considers to be the primary focus of her mission.
One poignant example of Sister Idília’s dedication is her care for a terminally ill man who did not share her faith. Despite their differences, she showed him kindness and compassion until the very end. This story is just one of many that highlight Sister Idília’s unwavering commitment to serving others in the name of Christ.
It is women like Sister Idília who remind us of the power of love and empathy in a world that often seems cold and indifferent. Her selfless dedication to the sick and marginalized is a testament to the transformative power of faith in action. Let us all take inspiration from Sister Idília’s example and strive to follow in her footsteps, spreading love and compassion wherever we go.
