Madrid: Ten Carmelite nuns who had been serving in Manchay, southeast of Lima, since 2012 have been transferred to Spain following growing concerns over insecurity in Peru. The move was authorized last month by the Vatican’s Dicastery responsible for religious institutes, after repeated incidents of threats, robberies, and attacks created unsafe conditions for the sisters.

According to Peruvian police records, the year 2025 has seen a 54.5 percent increase in violent assaults compared with the previous year. These alarming figures, coupled with the vulnerable position of cloistered religious communities, prompted Church authorities to arrange a safer environment for the sisters.

The Segorbe-Castellón Diocese in Spain confirmed the relocation and welcomed the nuns into a convent in Onda, located in the province of Castellón. They were received by Vicar General Fr. Javier Aparisi, who assured them of pastoral support during their transition. Bishop Casimiro López Lorente of Segorbe-Castellón is expected to visit the convent in the coming days to provide encouragement and assess their integration into the local community.

Church officials emphasized that this move ensures the continuation of the Carmelite mission, though now in a different setting. The permanent settlement of the sisters in Onda is still under planning, with diocesan authorities coordinating efforts to secure their future stability.

The relocation highlights both the escalating challenges of violence in Peru and the broader concerns facing contemplative communities worldwide. In Spain, many monasteries are also struggling with dwindling numbers, underscoring the difficulties faced by cloistered religious orders in maintaining their traditions while adapting to changing realities.