A startling scene unfolded during a magazine photoshoot in Naples, Italy, as a nun passionately intervened to split up two female models sharing a kiss.
The incident occurred during a photoshoot involving Serena de Ferrari and British model Kyshan Wilson.
Occurring back in 2022 for Not Yet magazine, the video has once again gone viral on social media - especially following the Pope's recent comments regarding same-sex relationships.
As reported by the Daily Mail, the unidentified nun, visibly agitated, approached the models as they embraced and shouted: "What are you doing? This is the devil's work," while the models giggled at her outburst. The moment was captured on video and once again been circulated on X (formerly known as Twitter).
After receiving millions of views on the platform, X users shared their thoughts, with one person writing: "Two girls are kissing and It should be no one else’s business but everyone else wants to poke in! Nun shouldn’t have interrupted! You don’t force your religious thoughts on others!"
However, others thought the models should have been more understanding to the nun's reaction, with one social media user writing: "The models should try to understand her instead of mocking her."
Roberta Mastalia, a makeup artist present during the shoot, recounted the incident, stating (via the Daily Mail): "We were on location in the Spanish Quarter in Naples, in a little sidestreet with the two models when all of a sudden the nun walked past. She asked us if we had been to Mass that day, and when we said 'No,' she started blaming young people for [the pandemic].
"Then she saw the two models posing up ready to kiss, and that's when she ran forward to split them up."
Mastalia added: "Our first reaction was we were all stunned, then we took it as a bit of a joke, and in fact, as you can see from the video, the two girls are laughing. We then had to ask the nun to leave as we explained we had work to do, and she slowly walked off."
Both models shared the moment to their Instagram pages, along with several stunning shots of the magazine shoot.
Antonello Sannino, of the local LGBTQ+ community group Arcigay, commented on the incident, saying: "It was homophobic behavior from the nun, but at least she wasn't aggressive. It seems as if the nun was quite outraged by what she saw, which would be understandable if it was another era."
Local priest Father Salvatore Giuliano offered a more understanding perspective, saying: "The Church has always been updating its views but in all walks of society, even in ours, some members, maybe of the older generation have not kept up with the latest changes."
Giuliano added: "I embrace this nun, who simply had the same reaction as any of our grandmothers would have."
Back in December, the Catholic Church once again updated its ever-evolving stance on same-sex relationships.
Per The Guardian, Pope Francis approved a ruling allowing priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples, although with certain limitations. "It will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage," the report stated.
Additionally, "the doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union".
The Vatican emphasized that such blessings would not constitute a form of marriage approval, but it marked a significant step forward in the Church's approach to LGBTQ+ issues.
