During my meetings with my confreres, I am often asked where I currently live, given my role as General Delegate for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue. Many still remember the headquarters of the International Franciscan Center for Dialogue (CEFID) at the Franciscanum in Assisi.
Let me clarify a few things: CEFID’s offices are still located in Assisi, where I travel from time to time. However, I reside permanently at the Seraphicum College in Rome. This is mainly because the Seraphicum offers easier access to the airport and my office requires frequent travel, meetings, and participation in events outside Assisi.
At this time, however, I would like to tell you about a meeting that took place right in the city of St. Francis. On October 17, 2026, I received a visit from the Most Reverend Dylan LITTLEFIELD, Presiding Bishop of the Old Catholic Union of the West (an independent Old Catholic church community) and Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of the Pacific.
How did we get in touch? Bishop LITTLEFIELD follows news and publications on Franciscan topics with interest, and after reading an article of mine on the Order’s official website, he asked to get in touch with me. In October, he came to Assisi on a pilgrimage, and thus we had the opportunity to meet in person.
Bishop LITTLEFIELD is a member of the community known as the Franciscans of Restored Hope and promotes Franciscan spirituality in the pastoral life of his diocese. In his ministry, he focuses primarily on people living on the margins of society. The St. Max Kolbe Mission is also very active in his diocese, carrying out social and charitable works.
Our meeting was an opportunity to share our experiences of following and bearing witness to the Franciscan charism. It also allowed us to recognize what unites us in our faith in Christ and our shared inspiration from St. Francis. Finally, it paved the way for fraternal dialogue and possible future collaboration.
Friar Sławomir KLEIN
General Delegate for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue (EDI)
