The nun circled, 33-year-old Roxana Rodriguez claimed she had no idea she was pregnant when she gave birth to a baby boy last week. She belongs to the “Little Disciples of Jesus” convent near Rieti, which manages an old people’s home. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the nun, who took a vow of chastity, was quoted as saying: “I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain.” She named the baby boy Francesco [Francis], the current Pope’s chosen title.
The new mum reportedly told her social worker:
“I am so happy. I feel more of a mother than a nun, I think that’s obvious. I decided to call him Francis in honour of our wonderful south American Pope. I do not feel of guilt. I will be keeping him and bringing him up. He is a gift from God. I am little worried about all the publicity, not only in Italy but in El Salvador and all over the world. Everyone is talking about this and I don’t think I will be able to return to my home country.”
A priest close to the nun told the Italian Magazine:
“It all happened last spring, around March or April time when she was back in El Salvador to get her passport renewed. She has not said who the father is but I understand he is an, shall we say, old flame of hers from when she was younger. At some stage I expect she will tell the father that he has a son and they will be reunited but I don’t know when that will be.”
It’s really amazing how a mere stomach cramp turned into a healthy nine-pound baby boy.
