Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – April 15-18, Assisi will host the |International Chapter of Mats,” which will unite members of the Franciscan order present all over the world. It is an historic event that will see the arrival of Franciscans from 65 different countries in the small Umbrian village. In fact, 2,000 friars are expected to attend the great reunion marking the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Franciscan order . 1,300 of them will be Italian and 700 will be from other countries.
The climax of the event will be an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in the courtyard of Castel Gandolfo. In the afternoon of the same day, a delegation of 25 friars, led by the General Ministers will visit the President of the Italian Republic at his home in Castel Porziano.
In presenting the event at Vatican Radio's headquarters, the General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor, Fr. Jose Rodriguez Carballo, observed that “the Franciscan family is in good vocational health.” Worldwide, the Franciscans number 600,000, 400,000 of which are lay members. There are 35,000 friars (friars minor, conventuals, capuchins, and third order). They are also joined by the congregations, orders, and groups with Franciscan charisms and, of course, the large component of the feminine branch, the Poor Clares. In Italy alone, there are 6,000 Franciscan friars, 980 religious communities, 400 young men in formation, and 380 parishes. From a vocational point of view, Fr. Carballo said, every year Italy (Franciscan Friars Minor alone) 120, 130 novices, which is considered a good result. The General Minister added that while Western Europe is experiencing a vocational crisis, Eastern Europe is seeing a renewal. In South America, where there has been a traditionally strong Franciscan presence, the number of Franciscans remains stable. While in North America there is not as much growth, there is a strong growth in the number of vocations being seen in Africa and Asia.
Among the participants in the Chapter are: Preacher of the Pontifical Houselhold Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa; Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi; Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaball, Custodian of the Holy Land; the Prefect for the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Cardinal Franc Rode; the Prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes; the Pontifical Delegate for the two Basilicas of Assisi (San Francesco and Santa Maria degli Angeli), Cardinal Attilio Nicora. (Mtp) (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2009)
