On July 4, 2025, in Rome, the 9th Capuchin Family Day was celebrated in a very special way, within the year of the Great Jubilee 2025.
As we know, after nine years of coming together on July 3, after the anniversary of the approval of our form of life with the bull Religionis zelus, there came an initiative involving the whole Capuchin family, i.e., we Capuchin Friars, the Capuchin Poor Clares and other communities of consecrated sisters affiliated with our Order or who share the same charism with us.
This year, the General Minister and his Council spearheaded a pilgrimage for us to take together to mark the jubilee year. Anticipation started a few months ago, and we kept pace with the main developments through social media. The event began at 7:30 a.m. with a pilgrimage route along the entire Via della Conciliazione, punctuated by intervals of prayer; the entrance into St. Peter’s Basilica through the Holy Door; prayer at the tomb of the Apostle; and then the celebration of the Eucharist with the General Minister presiding and assisted by the formation community of Viterbo. After Mass, there was a group photo in the large piazza, surrounded by Bernini’s statues. There were about 130 participants including friars, sisters and others, including a group of new major superiors who were gathered in Frascati over the preceding days. Obviously, these events were almost exclusively attended by those who live in Rome and the surrounding area.
The rest of the morning included time for personal prayer at our church on Via Veneto, where rest the remains of St. Felix of Cantalice, the first Capuchin saint, and to visit the crypt and museum located there. The last stop was at the General Curia for lunch, which was attended by some of the pilgrims.
Thanks to those who participated and, of course, to those who organized.