Nuns flee after Pope calls on them to help resolve Prosecco row

The nuns, who belong to the Cistercian order, left the building after the removal of their abbess, Mother Alina Pereira Gammachi, undated, a move that caused a stir in the local community. (Newsflash/NX) — Brazilian-born Mother Aline Pereira Gammachi has her fellow nuns intrigued with her business idea (Photo: Newsflash/NX)

A scandal over wine production at a secluded Italian abbey has left a senior nun distraught.

The monastery's abbess, Alina Pereira Gammachi, was invited to help the financially strapped monastery of Saints Gervasio and Protasio in Vittorio Veneto in northern Italy find income.

Among her innovative proposals since her arrival in 2018 was the commissioning of traditionalist sisters to begin producing and bottling their own Prosecco.

However, the place is home to a group of nuns representing the ancient Cistercian order, which largely avoids interaction with the outside world, and they were unwilling to give up their usual way of life.

The final straw came when the abbess was photographed holding a bottle of the holy drink next to the local mayor at a charity event.

Four nuns took the courageous decision to escape the monastery and write a letter to Pope Francis in 2022 accusing Mother Alina of violating the monastery's principles.

After years of speculation, it was announced on Easter Monday – the same day the pontiff passed away – that the abbess had been fired.

Mother Alina told local media: “Two years ago, some nuns wrote to Pope Francis accusing me of abuse.

“The charges were initially dropped thanks to the testimony of other nuns and the intervention of third parties.

“However, over time, some circumstances changed and on Easter Monday I was fired.”

The convent, about 40 miles north of Venice, is now run by an 81-year-old traditionalist who is expected to give up commercial activities.

However, this step failed to stop the scandal.

Five of Mother Alina's followers began looking for a new location in response to the intervention, claiming it was anything but divine.

One of the escapees noted: “The climate in the monastery became unbearable, so we decided to leave.”

“We left him and went to a safe and protected place. Some of us went to the police to avoid unnecessary attention and so that they would not look for us.”