The Vatican took a friendlier approach in wrapping up a six-year investigation of secular and "feminist" mentality supposedly taking root in religious orders of nuns in the U.S.

The Holy See has released a report praising nuns for their tireless work with the poor and showed appreciation for their "feminine genius," while amiably asking them to adhere to the church faith and do their best despite their dwindling numbers.

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The report contained no blatant criticisms of the sisters, nor any direct order for them to mend their ways --- only a gentle reminder that they remain "in harmony" with the teachings of the church.

The head of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Sister Sharon Holland, welcomed the report, calling it encouraging and realistic. She praised it for doing away with blame or simplistic solutions.

The message in the investigation report is a far cry from the evaluation that Cardinal Franc Rode started in 2008 with the blessings of Pope Benedict XVI. The head of the Vatican agency that supervises religious orders, Rode initiated a study into what he calls a secular mentality and a certain "feminist spirit" that spread in women's religious orders.

The cardinal left his job while the evaluation was on-going. His successors changed the tone of the study and sought a more amicable relationship with American nuns.

The report is optimistic that women with religious vows would take the chance to turn hesitancy and uncertainty into trust with church leaders. Many nuns are disappointed when priests failed to recognize their work and asked for a talk with bishops so their views can be heard, the report said.

Before the report was released to media in Rome, representatives of the religious orders and the nun who took part in the evaluation, Mother Mary Clare Millea, spoke with the Pope briefly and offered her his blessing, after hearing the pontiff's daily mass.

TagsVatican, U.S. nuns, feminist nuns, Pope Francis, Inquiry, Catholic Church