On Saturday, January 10, 2026, the annual meeting of the Procurator General with the students of the Urbe and several friar canonists from various Jurisdictions around the world took place at the General Curia, located in the Friary of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome.
Those who attended in person included Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO, the Procurator General, along with members of the General Procuration Office: Friar Francesco PANIZZOLO; the Vice Procurator General, Friar Javier A. RAMÍREZ RICO―a first-year doctoral student at the Pontifical Lateran University; and Friar Naim TOUMA―second-year licentiate student in canon law at the same university.
Thanks to modern communication tools, online participation was possible for Friar Jorge CAMPELO DE ALBUQUERQUE E MELO from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Brazil―he is preparing to defend his doctoral thesis; Friar Ruben MARTÍNEZ HERNÁNDEZ from the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico; and Friar Jijo THOMAS KARAKKATTU from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in India.
During the meeting, topics of importance for the legal life of the Church and the Order were examined in depth. In particular, the procedural and practical aspects of the transition of friar priests to the diocesan clergy were analyzed, with a focus on incardination ad experimentum and immediate incardination (pure et simpliciter) according to Canons 691–693 of the Code of Canon Law. In such cases, the decree of incardination from the diocesan Ordinary must be requested immediately after the notification of the Papal Rescript, to avoid misunderstandings.
The delicate issue of financial crimes was also addressed, reflecting on the most appropriate ways to recognize, prosecute, and prevent them responsibly.
A middle section of the meeting was dedicated to developments emerging from the latest General Chapter of our Order, with careful analysis of the new Motions that introduced amendments to the Constitutions regarding the voting rights of friars who are incapacitated, and amendments to the General Statutes concerning the General Archivist, and the Provincial and Custodial Archives.
Fraternal thanks go to the Procurator General, Friar Maurizio, for making himself available and for the atmosphere of genuine fraternity that characterized the meeting.
Friar Javier A. RAMÍREZ RICO, Vice Procurator General
