11. The wholly contemplative life, in order to be considered as coming under papal enclosure, must be solely and completely ordered to the attainment of union with God in contemplation.

An Institute is considered to be of wholly contemplative life if:

a) its members direct all their activity, interior and exterior, to the fervent and constant quest for union with God;

b) it excludes external works directed, even in a limited way, to the apostolate, and physical participation in events and ministries of the ecclesial community; (⁵⁹) such participation therefore should not be requested of nuns, since it would become a counter witness to their true participation in the life of the Church and to their authentic mission;

c) it involves a separation from the world that is practical and effective, (⁶⁰) and not merely symbolic. Every adaptation of the forms of separation from the outside world must be carried out in such a way “that physical separation is preserved”, (⁶¹) and it must be submitted to the approval of the Holy See.