Pregnant Nun Gives Birth to Baby Boy, Says She Was Unaware of Pregnancy
A nun is Italy is grabbing headlines after she gave birth last week and revealed she did not know she was pregnant.
The 31-year-old woman was initially rushed to hospital in the Italian city of Rieti with stomach cramps, according to the BBC.
Local reports reveal that the nine pound baby and his mother are both doing fine and even named her new son after Pope Francis.
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The nun, Roxana Rodriguez, insisted that she planned on keeping the baby, but did not know she was pregnant until she starting having labor contractions.
"I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain," Rodriguez told the Italian news agency ANSA.
Rodriguez belongs to the "Little Disciples of Jesus" convent in Campomoro near Rieti, which manages an old people's home.
Her fellow sisters said they were surprised to hear the news of the newborn, but released a statement wishing the new mother well as well as telling local residents that they would be accepting donations and other baby items on her behalf.
The others nuns at the convent also stated that they did not notice anything unusual during the course of her pregnancy. There is no word yet on if Rodriguez will stay in Italy or return to her home country.
Hospital officials did not give information on how the nun became pregnant, but local religious leaders didn't doubt her story that she was unaware of the baby. It is not yet known if an investigation will be opened or if the nun had been the victim of abuse.
"I guess she's telling the truth when she says she arrived at the hospital unaware of the pregnancy," said local pastor Don Fabrizio Borrello.
After the unexpected birth hospital staff also began collecting clothes and other donations for the new mother.
