From September 9 to 13, 2026, approximately fifty-five Capuchin bishops will gather in Assisi for a time of prayer, study, and fellowship, and to share about their service to the universal Church against the backdrop of the journey toward the 500th anniversary of the Capuchin Reform.
Preparations for the assembly of Capuchin bishops are in full swing ahead of the fall 2026 event. Nearly a decade after the last gathering—held from September 12 to 15, 2017, with fifty-six bishops in attendance—the brothers called to the episcopate are preparing to experience a new opportunity for fraternal communion.
The dates and locations of the assembly
Participants are expected to arrive on September 9, 2026, at the International College in Rome. The following day, they will travel to Assisi, where the proceedings and intervals of prayer will continue through September 13, 2026. The General Minister and his Council will take part in the meeting, along with approximately fifty-five bishops and a number of friars responsible for logistics, public relations, and translations.
Today, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin counts more than seventy-four bishops, many of whom serve in numerous dioceses throughout the world, while some brothers have concluded their terms of service upon reaching the age limit.
The decision to gather in Assisi is very meaningful for the sons of St. Francis. This gathering takes on even greater significance because it is part of the journey of preparation for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Order’s Reform, and it also coincides with the 800th anniversary of the death of the Seraphic Father. This pilgrimage provides an opportunity for the bishops to deepen their pastoral ministry by drawing on their Capuchin roots, returning to the Rule and the concrete example of the Poor Man of Assisi.
Dialogue, Formation, and Spirituality
The meeting will offer a unique opportunity for a group of brother bishops—who are geographically distant but brought together by the same charism and religious vocation—to share their experiences of service to the universal Church. The event has been designed as an opportunity for personal encounter, study, and in-depth exploration of specific topics identified by the General Council and suggested by the participants themselves.
In addition to instructive discussion and opportunities to share experiences, the “pilgrims” will pause in prayer at sites of vital importance to our Franciscan charism, such as the tomb of St. Francis, the Porziuncola, and the Sanctuary of the Renunciation.
As a reinforcement to these preparations, the General Minister addressed the brother bishops in his letter of invitation as follows: “I invoke the Lord’s blessing upon all of us, that He may illuminate our path as we follow in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi and make your valuable service to the Universal Church fruitful.”
Let us continue to pray for this important gathering and for the valuable service that our brother bishops perform throughout the world.