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Sister Ruth, who has visited 260 countries, arrives in York ahead of Pope's UK visit

9:17am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in


A GLOBETROTTING nun has arrived in York to offer her unique brand of spiritual help to troubled residents of the city.

After visiting more than 260 countries throughout the world, Sister Ruth has returned to England in anticipation of the forthcoming visit of the Pope.

The 69-year-old Franciscan’s missionary work has taken her to some of the poorest countries in Africa and South Africa and she said there were now just a handful of countries she has yet to visit.

After arriving in York on Monday, she said: “I know York quite well. I have been to look around the Minster and Shambles. York is the most beautiful city in the world.”

Yesterday the wandering nun met with the sisters of Bar Convent in Blossom Street and is also looking forward to visiting The Shrine of Saint Margaret Clitheroe in Shambles.

Staying in the city for an indefinite time, Sister Ruth said she will be wandering the streets, supermarkets, and even pubs, offering help, advice and prayer for anyone who wants to chat.

“I love people coming and talking to me,” she said. “That’s my main aim. I want people to tell me their problems and then we can pray. It’s an extremely successful approach.

“I will be walking round some of the pubs too because after two pints people start to tell me their whole life stories. They know I won’t betray their confidence.”

Any spare time will be spent visiting relatives which Sister Ruth has in Yorkshire.

Based at a convent in London, the nun is a graduate of Keele University and has been travelling for more than two decades.

With no formal schedule for her stay in York, Sister Ruth has told people to simply keep an eye out for her on the streets of the city.

Comments(16)

charles dance says...
10:46am Wed 8 Sep 10

Sounds to me like she is on a continuous holiday!

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redblueblur says...
10:49am Wed 8 Sep 10

So lifes one big holiday then,and as for the popes visit,who's paying for that,the catholic church,no it will be the tax payers of this country..

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sheps lad says...
11:03am Wed 8 Sep 10

Wonder if she will visit The Beagle to spread some goodwill to all men?

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Ben Guela says...
11:10am Wed 8 Sep 10

I wish her well.
Sadly, there are too many sceptical people about.

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Ben Guela says...
11:22am Wed 8 Sep 10

Good luck, Sister.
We need good people like you. There are plenty of cynics in this country.

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Garrowby Turnoff says...
11:27am Wed 8 Sep 10

Struth! I mean St Ruth...

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SJyork says...
12:20pm Wed 8 Sep 10

"York is the most beautiful city in the world.” Couldn't agree more! I hope you enjoy your time in York.

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SJyork says...
12:20pm Wed 8 Sep 10

"York is the most beautiful city in the world.” Couldn't agree more! I hope you enjoy your time in York.

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Pedro says...
3:41pm Wed 8 Sep 10

My father used to be a nun. On any form that had the question "Profession." He wrote "nun."

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sheps lad says...
3:51pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Pedro wrote:
My father used to be a nun. On any form that had the question "Profession." He wrote "nun."
Did you get this off PP?

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redblueblur says...
5:02pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Pedro wrote:
My father used to be a nun. On any form that had the question "Profession." He wrote "nun."
funny,ha-ha

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Princess71 says...
6:23pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Is it only me that has noticed that there are only 195 countries in the world!

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Garrowby Turnoff says...
9:12pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Princess71 wrote:
Is it only me that has noticed that there are only 195 countries in the world!
Czech Republic and Slovakia show the name changing that goes on. P'raps that's the answer?

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redblueblur says...
10:21pm Wed 8 Sep 10

york is knot all it seems,try driving around clifton,its like the wild wild west,its going down hill fast.

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Lamplighter says...
10:48pm Wed 8 Sep 10

Shep's Lad, you really ought to get rid of your Beagle obsession - you're getting really boring.

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Proffesor Yaffle says...
3:17pm Thu 9 Sep 10

What a wonderful woman, who cares how many countries she has been to. She has done so much for other people in the world in her short lifetime.
There is so much to see and do in this world and so little time to do it so I applaud Sister Ruth for getting off her backside and doing it. (wonder if she can have a word with the big man upstairs to get rid of the SCUM though)

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More News stories


Sister Ruth inside the chapel in York’s Bar Convent, with Sister Agatha from the convent. Sister Ruth admires “the beautiful city of York”

Sister Ruth inside the chapel in York’s Bar Convent, with Sister Agatha from the convent.

Sister Ruth admires “the beautiful city of York”



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