Manuela Camagni, Pope Benedict's 'Papal Family' Member, Dies After Being Struck By Car In Rome

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: The Huffington Post

VATICAN CITY — A member of Pope Benedict XVI's private "papal family" died Wednesday after suffering head injuries when she was struck by a car as she crossed a street in Rome, the Vatican said.

Manuela Camagni, 56, was one of four consecrated women who tend to the pope and care for the papal household.

"Learning with sorrow of the news of Manuela's death, the pope prayed for her soul during Mass celebrated with the papal family in the private chapel" of the Apostolic Palace, Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano said.

Benedict took out an obituary notice, citing his "sorrow for the sudden passing" of the woman and expressing spiritual closeness to her family. Other members of the Vatican, including the Swiss Guard, also took out notices in L'Osservatore Romano to send their condolences to her loved ones.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/24/manuela-carmagni-pope-benedict-rome-_n_788181.html

[Sanity Claws]

1. I never heard of a papal family or consecrated women

And I was raised Catholic.

Does anyone know anything about them?

[CountAllVotes]

2. seems there were 14 in 2009

MADISON -- Five consecrated women from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest have arrived in the Diocese of Madison.

They are the first group of a total of 14 consecrated women coming from the society to serve in the diocese.

In welcoming them to the diocese, Bishop Robert C. Morlino said that the “women will reside in the Sauk City area and will serve the surrounding parishes and the diocese in various capacities. Financial support for the women will continue to be provided by the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest, which currently maintains their support.”

In a press release, the diocese said that the consecrated women’s service will be an asset to the parishes and people they serve, adding no increased expenses. Additionally, during this time of economic difficulties, parish staffs should be assured that no one will lose their job, as a result of this great blessing to the diocese and its people, said the press release.

http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org/news/around-diocese/785-consecrated-women-to-serve-in-diocese.html

I'm sort of "Catholic" (whatever that means these days) and I'd never heard of them either. :shrug:

Sorry to hear of this in any event.

:dem:

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Professed religious women

are consecrated, I would think. Consecrated women dedicate their entire lives to God and the Church through the public profession of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.

[Sanity Claws]

4. How is that different from a nun?

Also what are there functions as part of a papal family?
I wonder whether this is a throwback to the days when popes had mistresses.

[hedgehog]

7. Strictly speaking, any woman who has professed vows to join a religious community is a sister.

Cloistered sisters ( sister who never leave their convents) are nuns. I never heard the phrase "consecrated women" before this week, and I'm a life-long Catholic certified to teach religious ed to kids. Without having done much research about it, my general impression is that when a woman refers to herself as a consecrated woman rather than as a sister, she is a member of one of many right wing groups, mostly from Spain, that have sprung up in the Church in recent years. I suspect that these consecrated women are under direct obedience to a priest. Sisters, on the other hand. are governed by women chosen by election amongst themselves.

[nolabear]

5. How terribly sad. May she rest in peace.

I'd never heard of this job either, but I imagine her absence will be felt deeply.

[somone]

6. Maybe Regnum Christi?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regnum_Christi