News Agents|The two women belonged to different orders in Sicily, Italy. Both are Africans and were posted to their home continent as part of their charity mission but became pregnant while visiting their home countries.

One of the women, who is 34, only discovered she was pregnant when she had a medical scan after complaining of stomach pains.

The mother superior, whose age is not known, is based at an institute that helps “fallen women and their children.”

A church source in Rome said: “There is consternation at this news. It appears that both women were back in their home nations and obviously had some form of sexual encounter.

Both women are expected to leave the orders to raise their children.

It could just be a miracle, but the Catholic church is investigating how two nuns became pregnant while on separate missionary trips in Africa. The church announced that the investigation would prioritize the welfare of the children over the nuns’ violation of chastity vows.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis spoke about widespread abuse in the Catholic church, including sexual abuse of nuns by male members of the clergy, calling it a “serious, grave problem.”