From January 26 to 30, 2026, the Fourth Conference of European Formators was held at our Domus lætitiæ in Assisi. Capuchin formators engaged in a profound reflection on their mission on a continent marked by radical transformations. This dialog started with a careful assessment of the social context in Europe and the Mediterranean: a territory today wounded by conflicts, hardship with migration, and a widespread fragmentation of cultural and environmental identity. In this reflection, the participants asked themselves how to form new friars who know how to nurture an authentic attentiveness to the world, while avoiding closing themselves off by being defensive of their identity or of a sterile logic.
To navigate this challenge, the formators sought the input of three experts who helped them interpret it as a valuable opportunity. Jesuit Father Giuseppe Riggio analyzed European sociocultural dynamics, emphasizing the declining birth rate and the need to rediscover the richness of relationships in order to overcome modern individualism. Bishop Felice Accrocca, on the other hand, drew attention to the missionary DNA of the Order’s origins, recalling how the Capuchin charism is by nature a constant “coming and going” between the silence of the hermitage and the noise of the city. Finally, Sister Katia Roncalli shared with the participants a reflection on lifestyles, inviting them to a formation that is an immersion in reality and a return to the radicalism of Francis’ Testament.
The conference was not only a time for study, but also an opportunity for fraternity and prayer. Among the most significant were a prayer vigil before the Crucifix of San Damiano—an invitation to “repair the house” of relationships—and the Eucharistic celebration at Santa Maria degli Angeli, in a symbolic journey 800 years after the death of St. Francis.
In a presentation by the General Secretariat for Formation: Br. Abera Makebo (Secretary) and Br. Waldheim Rodrigues (Vice-Secretary) discussed the work currently underway and the prospects for the future direction of formation in the Order. The General Councilor, Br. Leon Budău assisted in this discussion.
Looking ahead to the next steps, the formators expressed their desire to promote a “handcrafted formation” capable of valuing the uniqueness of each young person, preparing them for a committed mission among today’s poor. The ultimate goal is to gather the fruits of this journey in a Ratio formationis localis, a document that, while respecting regional differences, shows the Order as a single body. In a Europe that is divided in many ways, the choice to walk together is thus a prophetic sign of unity, responding with hope to what the Spirit is saying to the Church today.