Today, the morning was dedicated to an audience with Pope Leo XIV. At around 9:00 a.m., the Capitulars and friars from the General Houses in Rome, celebrated Mass on the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. His Eminence, Cardinal Luis Antonio TAGLE, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presided. The Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, began by offering some words of greeting to Cardinal TAGLE. In his homily, Cardinal TAGLE invited the friars to cultivate integrity of heart and purity of vision in order to look at reality with the merciful gaze of the Lord. He reminded the friars that, as they plan for the future, they should never forget to strip themselves of everything, so that all they have, they have received from the Most High God.
After the Mass, the Procurator General, Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO, led the large group of friars (around 150) to the Clementine Hall. The audience with Pope Leo XIV began around noon. In addition to the Conventual Franciscans present, the members of the General Chapter of the Order of the Holy Trinity also took part in the audience. The Holy Father expressed his gratitude to both of the religious groups. He drew a parallel between the spiritualities of their respective founders: St. Francis of Assisi and St. John of Matha.
Addressing the friars, he said:
“Dear sons of St. Francis of Assisi, on the 800th anniversary of the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures, or Brother Sun, I urge each of you personally, and in each of your fraternities, to be a living reminder of the primacy of the praise of God in Christian life.” After his address, Pope Leo personally greeted each person present in a warm and friendly manner. He also posed for a group photo.
The Chapter proceedings resumed at 5:30 p.m. with the recitation of Midday Prayer (None). Friar Giovanni VOLTAN, the former Assistant General for the Federazione Intermediterranea Ministri Provinciali (FIMP), read the closing letter addressed to all of the friars of the Order at the conclusion of the 203rd General Chapter.
This was followed by the election of the General Econom, Friar Leszek ŁUCZKANIN, the former General Exactor. The new General Exactor is Friar Cătălin FABIAN from the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania.
In his closing admonition, the Minister General reiterated what he had proposed at the beginning of the Chapter: that we fix our gaze on hope. This call invites us to live fully, to write into the present what we hope for in the future. Today we must live what is foreseen in the future! We want to believe that we can begin living now the fraternity we hope to fully realize in the future.
The Minister General and the Secretary General, Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK, expressed their heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the Chapter, especially the friars of the Seraphicum, who graciously hosted the Capitulars.
The General Chapter concluded in the Seraphicum chapel with the recitation of Evening Prayer, into which a prayer for the friars who had died during the past six-year term, had been incorporated.
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