Yet another nun more in love with the media than Christ leaves her order. The Prosecco Nun.

 

This is an article written in her defence - it is not view I share.  A religious life performed is not a religious life all.

People are fed up with the Church. And what does the Church do? It drives away the few people who offer hope for change.

When the future of the Church is discussed today, the phrase often comes up that it needs to become more modern, more open, and closer to the people. Yet the case of Aline Pereira Ghammachi—known as the "Prosecco Nun"—demonstrates how much the institution struggles with precisely the kind of personalities who actually have the potential to save the Church itself.

In 2018, at the age of just 34, the Brazilian-born woman was appointed Abbess of the Cistercian convent of San Giacomo di Veglia in northern Italy. This made her one of the youngest heads of a convent in the country. Unlike many of her predecessors, she brought not only theological knowledge but also a background in business administration. Upon taking over the financially struggling convent, she began to break new ground.

Under her leadership, the convent's products were marketed more professionally. These included honey, aloe products, and—above all—Prosecco from the convent's own vineyards. At the same time, she initiated social projects and developed programs for people with disabilities. A convent that had been on the brink of financial collapse was transformed back into a vibrant place that garnered public attention.

It was precisely this that made her famous. And it was precisely this that apparently sparked her conflict with parts of the Church hierarchy. Aline Pereira Ghammachi conducted herself confidently, spoke to the media, and showcased the convent’s work to the outside world. Critics within the Church viewed this as a departure from traditional concepts of monastic life. Internal power struggles, anonymous complaints, and investigations ensued. The former abbess denies the allegations against her, describing them as a targeted campaign against her personally.

Her statement that a high-ranking church official had described her as "too young" and "too beautiful" attracted particular attention. It is impossible to determine conclusively from the outside whether those exact words were spoken. What is certain, however, is that the dispute quickly moved beyond substantive issues to become a symbol of the conflict between reform and tradition.

In 2025, Ghammachi was ultimately removed from her position as abbess. Several nuns subsequently left the convent with her. They were later released from their religious vows and founded a new community outside official church structures. There, they continue their social projects and fund themselves through their own products and initiatives.

It is precisely at this point that the real problem arises for many people. For years, the Church has lamented declining membership, a lack of new recruits, and a loss of social relevance. At the same time, outsiders find it baffling when the very people who introduce new ideas, solve economic problems, and reach individuals beyond the church walls are the ones who cause friction.

The case of the so-called "Prosecco Nun" therefore represents more than just an internal convent dispute. For many observers, it symbolizes the question of whether the Church is truly prepared to change. Aline Pereira Ghammachi embodied many of the qualities church strategists have been calling for for years: youth, education, entrepreneurial spirit, social projects, and the ability to reach people who had long since turned their backs on the Church.

That is why her fate elicits not only astonishment but also frustration among many. For when even such figures ultimately fail or are pushed out of the system, the impression quickly arises that while change is demanded publicly, it is unwelcome internally.

That is precisely why so many people have had enough of the Church. Not because of a nun who sold Prosecco, but because the case conveys the impression that those who might actually have given the Church a future are being held back.

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