A South American nun belonging to the Missionary Sisters of the Love of Christ in Macerata, Italy gave birth to a baby boy in what she describes as a surprise pregnancy. The as yet unidentified sister told her mother superior and her fellow sisters that she had no idea she was pregnant.

The nun initially reported severe stomach pains and was quickly transported to the emergency room in a local hospital. The doctors discovered that she was not suffering from stomach cramps or any related ailment but was instead pregnant. They then proceeded to complete the delivery of the child.

There were no complications with the delivery and the baby is completely healthy. The Missionary Sisters have expressed a desire to take care of the baby but questions remain as to the future of the nun-slash-mother. Catholic nuns typically have vows pertaining to chastity, poverty, and obedience, and the new mother is in clear violation of the first one.

An article from the L'Unione Sarda, an Italian newspaper, is reporting that the convent has indicated that the nun is not actually one, and is instead only a girl that they are sheltering. The "nun" was admitted to the convent in June last year, and it is suspected that she was pregnant at the time of her arrival.

Stories of nuns giving birth have cropped up in recent years. At the same time last year, Roxana Rodriguez also gave birth following the same symptoms of severe stomach pains. She was similarly unable to provide an explanation for the pregnancy. She later left the convent and is now taking care of her baby, which she named Francesco, after Pope Francis.