What began as a spontaneous celebration inside a monastery has become one of the week's most talked-about videos on social media.
The Poor Clares of the Santa Maria dos Anjos Monastery in Dourados, Brazil, went viral after posting a video of themselves celebrating Brazil's winning goal against Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In the video, the cloistered nuns leap to their feet, cheer, clap, and jump for joy as Brazil scores the game-winning goal.
The contrast between their cloistered life and their enthusiastic celebration captured the attention of millions.
The video has already surpassed 8.1 million views and received more than 23,000 comments, many from people surprised to learn that cloistered nuns also follow soccer.
The viral video also drew thousands of people to the monastery's social media page, sparking curiosity about the sisters and their way of life.
The sisters belong to the Order of Saint Clare, founded by Saint Clare of Assisi and inspired by the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi. Known as the Poor Clares, they live a vocation centered on prayer, contemplation, enclosure, and manual work.
Although they live a hidden life, the monastery occasionally shares special moments from the community on social media, giving the faithful a glimpse into their daily lives.
In an interview with G1, Mother Rafaela explained that their support goes far beyond the outcome of a soccer match.
"For us, it was another fraternal moment, but with a broader meaning, because the World Cup isn't just about cheering for our country. It's about contemplating the values of discipline, fraternity, and joy. It's about seeing how human beings can accomplish such beautiful things in a world that sometimes seems to be becoming less and less human."
She also shared that the sisters pray for the Brazilian National Team, asking for the intercession of Saint Padre Pio—the saint to whom coach Carlo Ancelotti has a special devotion—as well as Our Lady of Aparecida.
According to Mother Rafaela, the sisters' preparations for Brazil's next match remain the same:
"Passion fruit juice and lots of faith so that Brazil can win."
Monastery Issues Statement After Going Viral
Because of the overwhelming number of messages and interview requests they received, the Poor Clares published a statement thanking people for their support.
The sisters said they were grateful for the warm response to the video, but explained that the demands of their prayer life prevent them from accepting the many interview requests they have received.
"We are receiving many interview requests and many messages. We thank everyone. We are very happy with the positive response to our video. However, our prayer life is quite demanding, so we will not be able to respond to any more interview requests or inquiries."
The statement concluded with a promise that delighted many of their new followers:
"We are praying for everyone, and on Sunday we will be together again to watch Brazil."
Even behind the walls of the cloister, the Poor Clares showed that there is room for joy, celebration, and love for their country.
This time, just a few seconds of celebration were enough to introduce millions of people to the beautiful witness of a community devoted to prayer.