Religious orders have not been immune from the effects of secularisation in modern society, Pope Benedict told their leading representatives on Monday, urging Religious to read the signs of the times. Responding more effectively to these signs - secularism, globalisation, and an increased spirituality that is not open to the Church or religious institutions - was urgently needed, the Pope told the gathering. He was echoing remarks from the Vatican's top official on religious orders, Cardinal Franc Rodé, who four days earlier criticised consecrated persons for being "too bourgeois" and not obedient enough.

"The process of secularisation that is advancing in contemporary culture in fact does not spare, unfortunately, even religious communities," the Pope said in a text the Vatican made public on Tuesday. But he also noted that even though "not a few dense clouds" had descended on the future of religious life, there were "signs of providential re-awakenings" - especially in new orders. "It is interesting to note the wealth of vocations present, particularly in those institutions that have preserved or have chosen a tenor of life often quite austere, and in any case faithful to the Gospel lived sine glossa [with clarity]," the Pope said.

The meeting between Pope Benedict and the executive committees of the men's Union of Superiors General (USG) and the women's International Union of Superiors General (UISG) was the first the organisations had been granted with a pope for 25 years.

Eleven men and eight women heads of religious orders sat around a table with Pope Benedict and three other Vatican officials - Cardinal Rodé and Archbishop Gianfranco Gardin (prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) and Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Vatican officials asked the religious superiors not to speak to the press about details of the 90-minute closed-door session. But sources told The Tablet that the religious order heads put four open-ended questions to Pope Benedict who responded with spontaneous and unscripted answers.  According to one source at the meeting, the Pope identified three "signs of the times" that he believed the Church and religious orders, in particular, had to respond to more effectively - secularism, an increased spirituality that is not necessarily open to the Church or religious institutions, and globalisation. The Pope apparently indicated that one of the clear ways the Church could respond to these signs of the times was through its "sacramentality, liturgy and worship", according to one participant.

Another source said the religious superiors decided not to bring up any "thorny questions" regarding the sometimes strained relations  between the USG/UISG and Rome. They were hoping that Monday's meeting would help to create a climate of greater trust and respect that would then lead to more similar gatherings in the future. Official responses to the meeting from both sides were positive. The Vatican described it as an "ample and fraternal dialogue" on the "positive elements and the difficulties" of religious life. The Religious hailed it as a milestone and said the atmosphere had been "friendly and warm".

But Cardinal Rodé has recently given voice to the Vatican's concern about the attitude of some religious orders. Interviewed by the Italian news agency Ansa on 14 February about the crisis in vocations, the cardinal said that religious life was being weakened by "moral relativism". "The biggest problems are created by the climate of secularisation which is present not only in Western society but also within the Church. The indicators are unfettered freedom, a weak sense of family, a worldly spirit, the scarce visibility of religious dress, a devaluation of prayer, an insufficient community life and a scant regard for obedience," said Cardinal Rodé.