In the picturesque countryside near Salzburg, Austria, a remarkable standoff between three elderly nuns and church authorities has captured international attention, igniting debates about religious life, digital expression, and the rights of the aging. Sisters Bernadette (88), Regina (86), and Rita (82) – now affectionately known as the “octogenarian squatters” – have become unlikely social media stars, chronicling their battle to remain in the convent they once called home.
The saga began nearly two years ago when the local abbey and the Archdiocese of Salzburg took formal ownership of the convent after moving the sisters into a nursing home. According to NPR, the sisters contend they never realized they were signing away what they believed was a lifelong right to stay in their cloister. They were the last members of their order at the Elsbethen convent and, by their account, were taken to the nursing home against their will.
But the story took a turn worthy of a Hollywood script. With the help of sympathetic parishioners – who rented a U-Haul and even enlisted a locksmith – the sisters staged a daring escape from the care home. They returned to the convent, moved back in, and declared themselves determined to stay. As National Examiner reported, the sisters dubbed their adventure “Operation Get Thee to the Nunnery.” They quickly became media sensations, and their social media savvy only amplified their cause. Their Instagram account, which started with a modest following, has since ballooned to over 200,000 supporters.
Life back at the convent has been anything but quiet. Sister Rita, despite her 82 years, is often seen on Instagram rushing through the cloisters and even dabbling in boxing lessons. Sister Regina, now so used to climbing four flights of stairs, frequently forgets to use the recently donated stairlift. Meanwhile, Sister Bernadette, who has served as a nun for 70 years, regularly shares sharp-witted observations about both sacred and secular matters over a ritual cup of coffee. Their posts have struck a chord with the public, blending humor, resilience, and a touch of rebellion.
The sisters’ return, however, has not sat well with their superior, Provost Markus Grasl of Reichersberg Abbey. Provost Grasl was reportedly livid upon learning of their escape and reoccupation of the convent. He quickly brought in a crisis PR manager, Harald Schiffl, to manage the fallout, as the story made headlines and the nuns refused to return to the nursing home. According to Schiffl, “It goes without saying that the sisters were consulted before being moved into the nursing home. And it’s understandable that after decades of living and working in one place, such a move is not easy.” Still, the sisters and their supporters maintain that the move was forced and that they were not properly informed of the consequences.
In an attempt to resolve the standoff, Provost Grasl offered the sisters a deal: they could remain in the convent, but only if they deleted their social media posts, avoided journalists, and dropped any legal counsel. The proposed agreement, obtained by NPR, also bars laypeople from entering the cloisters – including the longtime helpers the sisters rely on for daily support. The trio dismissed the offer immediately, with Sister Regina declaring on Instagram, “We can’t agree to this deal. Without the media, we’d have been silenced.” Sister Bernadette added, “We need to resolve this, but any agreement we reach must be in accordance with God’s will and shaped by human reason.”
The nuns’ supporters, including former student Christina Wirtenberger, have played a key role in keeping their plight in the public eye. Wirtenberger told the National Examiner, “We invited the press along to prevent the provost from [kicking] the sisters out of the convent. I was told that [Grasl] would not be so bold in front of the press.” With their growing social media following and media attention, the sisters’ superiors have found it impossible to quietly remove them from the convent.
Church authorities, however, see the sisters’ digital activism as unbecoming. Schiffl, speaking for Grasl, insists the social media ban is fair: “The abbey wishes to discontinue the sisters’ social media accounts because what they show has very little to do with real religious life.” He laments that media interest has complicated the search for a “viable and sustainable solution,” suggesting that without such attention, the matter could have been resolved with less damage to the church’s reputation.
The dispute has now escalated to the highest levels. Unable to reach an agreement, Grasl has called on the Vatican office responsible for religious orders to intervene. As of this week, Rome has yet to comment. In the meantime, the sisters continue posting to their Instagram followers and keep a watchful eye on the papal Instagram account, awaiting any sign of intervention from the Holy See.
Legal and theological experts have weighed in on the controversy. Canon law scholar and priest Wolfgang Rothe told NPR that the provost’s demands are “simply unlawful. He seeks to restrict the sisters to such an extent that is nothing less than a violation of their human rights.” Rothe further argues that the deal has no legal basis in either church or state law and describes the offer as neither reasonable nor humane. He warns that the provost’s promise to let the sisters remain is conditional and could be revoked at any time, leaving the sisters vulnerable to future eviction.
Sister Bernadette has pointed out what she sees as a double standard: “The provost and the church invite journalists to the big parties they throw. It helps raise money. Why shouldn’t we do the same?” She notes that Grasl himself is media-savvy, even participating in a photo shoot with an Austrian TV chef in 2022. The sisters argue that their online presence is not only harmless but necessary for their protection and for sharing their faith and experiences with a wider audience.
The standoff has highlighted broader questions about the role of elderly religious women in the modern church, the use of social media by religious communities, and the rights of individuals within hierarchical institutions. As the world watches and the Vatican deliberates, the octogenarian nuns remain steadfast in their convictions – and, for now, in their beloved convent.
Whatever the outcome, the story of Sisters Bernadette, Regina, and Rita is a testament to the enduring power of faith, community, and a well-timed Instagram post to shake up centuries-old traditions.