Runaway nuns can stay in Alpine convent if they leave social media

Three Austrian nuns in their 80s who ran away from the old people's home where they were placed have been told they can stay in their former convent "until further notice".

However, Church authorities say they can only stay if they stop posting on social media.

Sister Bernadette, 88, Sister Regina, who is 86 and 82-year-old Sister Rita are the last three nuns at the Kloster Goldenstein convent in Elsbethen, just outside Salzburg.

The three nuns say they were taken out of the convent against their will in December 2023.

In September, they moved back in with the help of former students and a locksmith, angering Church officials.

The nuns' superior, Provost Markus Grasl from Reichersberg Abbey, called on them to return to the care home, saying their decision to return to the convent was "completely incomprehensible".

The nuns' story sparked worldwide interest. Supporters helped them with food, electricity and social media, posting videos of the nuns' daily lives.

These feature the nuns at prayer or at lunch, and include Sister Rita's exercise workouts. She was recently given a pair of boxing gloves.

The Goldenstein nuns have amassed almost 100,000 followers on Instagram and several thousand on Facebook.

Now after almost three months of standoff, a spokesman for the Provost, Harald Schiffl, has told Austrian Press Agency APA that the nuns can stay for now.

It follows a meeting earlier this week, where a proposed solution to the standoff was suggested.

The nuns could stay at the Kloster Goldenstein, Harald Schiffl told APA, but only under certain conditions.

These include giving up their social media activities.

Church officials also want the nuns to ensure that the enclosed part of the convent will no longer be accessible to people who do not belong to the order.

In return, they will be allowed to stay and be provided with medical care and spiritual support from a priest.