Young Nun Wows Judges on Italy’s ‘The Voice’

Sister Cristina Scuccia startled the judges with her religious habit and the quality of her March 19 televised rendition of Alicia Keys’ song ‘No One.’

ROME — Sister Cristina Scuccia is a 25-year-old member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family who has appeared on The Voice of Italy, a reality show akin to America's The Voice or American Idol or Britain’s Got Talent.

Sister Cristina surprised the four judges on The Voice of Italy March 19 with both her talent and her habit.

The judges on the show begin with their backs turned to the performer, and they turn around only if they like what they hear.

As the judges turned to face Sister Cristina, their astonishment was visible at seeing a young nun singing Alicia Keys’ No One.

A native of Sicily, Sister Cristina arrived at the show accompanied by four sisters from her community, as well as her parents.

The four judges of the popular TV program are the Italian singers Raffaella Carra, J-Ax, Noemi and Piero Pelu.

After her performance, Carra asked Sister Cristina if she is really a nun and why she chose to compete on the show.

“Yes, I am truly, truly a sister,” she replied.

“I came here because I have a gift, and I want to share that gift. I am here to evangelize.”

According to the show’s format, when a participant receives the approval of the judges, he or she then chooses which judge’s team to join. Sister Cristina chose J-Ax “because I told myself that if they turned around, I would choose the first one.”

J-Ax, who was visibly moved when he saw Sister Cristina, said he was thrilled to have been chosen by the most popular participant on the show.

Sister Cristina is trending on Twitter with #suorcristina

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, used the hashtag in a tweet Thursday, commending her for sharing her talent with the Italian people: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).”