VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI praised a 17th-century Italian nun whose total identification with Jesus Christ resulted in stigmata and other visible signs of mystic communion with God.

St. Veronica Giuliani, born in the Italian region of Umbria in 1660, entered the cloistered convent of the Capuchin Poor Clares in Citta di Castello at the age of 16, where she stayed until the end of her life in 1727, the Pope said during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI audience hall Dec. 15.

Much is known about St. Veronica, the Pope said, because of the many letters, reflections and poems she wrote. But most of her thoughts come from her diary, where she recorded 34 years of monastic life in 22,000 handwritten pages, he said.

St. Veronica felt a profound identification with the crucified Christ, the Pope said. In her diary, she wrote that she asked him to allow her to be crucified with him. He quoted her description of a vision in which she saw “five splendid rays come from his wounds toward me. Four became nails, and one became a golden lance in flames that pierced my heart. The nails pierced my hands and feet.” She wrote that in this moment she felt “completely transformed in God,” the Pope said.

He said that the wounds of the stigmata and the crown of thorns marked St. Veronica. Her closeness to God and Christ gave her a sense of purpose, he added.

“Our saint understood her mission as that of living between men and God, between sinners and Jesus Christ,” the Pope said.

Her deep contemplation of Jesus’ suffering for the sake of humanity is an example for Christians today in their commitment to help others, the Pope said.

The audience took an unusual turn when four circus performers took off their shirts and performed three daring balancing acts before the Pope.

Pope Benedict watched intently as they gripped each other’s hands and ankles to stand, one atop the other. They were part of a delegation that has come to the Vatican to participate in the Dec. 12-16 International Congress for the Pastoral Care of Circus and Traveling Show People.

Next to them onstage was a life-sized Nativity scene and a large Christmas tree, which the Pope blessed at the conclusion of the audience.