The Plenary Council of the Order (PCO IX) has come to a close after an intense final phase of work. On October 29, the penultimate day of the PCO, the friars gathered after morning prayer to continue voting on motions related to the three major themes: Mission, Fraternal Collaboration, and the St. Lawrence Fraternities. These discussions continued throughout the day, providing an opportunity to propose amendments to the wording and spirit of the motions themselves. On the morning of October 30, following thorough working sessions, the delegates met to finalize the voting procedures, confirming the motions—which had been well honed after the changes made during the preceding days; it will provide the necessary content for the drafting of the final document, which will be prepared at a later date.
The General Minister’s Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements
Before concluding the final session, the General Minister delivered a closing address to the PCO delegates. He highlighted the extraordinary “maximum substantial convergence” achieved by the assembly at the conclusion of the voting, an accomplishment he described as a true divine gift. Br. Roberto praised the seriousness, dedication, and active participation with which the representatives carried out their task. He also highlighted how the meeting had revealed a clear “maturity of understanding” within the Order—a tangible sign of a community that grows daily on its journey toward God, toward its brothers, and in its mission. Following this, time was set aside to thank all the brothers who collaborated to make the event possible, with special mention given to the preparatory commission, the translators, the interpreters, the liturgical team, the IT team, the communications commission, the fraternal service, and the PCO secretariat.
The Closing Eucharist and the Homily
Finally, at 12:15 p.m., the friars gathered for the concluding Eucharist of the CPO. The entire liturgy was celebrated in a variety of languages, from the readings and prayers of the faithful to the hymns. This helped transform the celebration into a communal moment of thanksgiving for the fellowship and reflection experienced by the delegates and officials, who had made the International College in Rome their home for three weeks. The Mass was presided over by the General Minister, Br. Roberto Genuin, and concelebrated by the Vicar General, Br. Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira, and the PCO Secretary, Br. Michele Mottura.
During his homily, Br. Roberto recalled the face of a God who constantly bends down toward humanity to lift it up from its limitations and sins, proving himself steadfastly faithful in his desire to grant salvation and even overcoming our resistance. Applying this profound reflection to the daily reality of the Order, Br. Roberto warned against the temptation to view our own lives by focusing exclusively on flaws, limitations, and the need for change. The invitation—already reiterated in the brief letter sent to the entire Order on the occasion of the Year of St. Francis—is to learn to view our institutions and fellow brothers by recognizing the blessings and grace that God continues to bestow, looking toward the future with a new and confident understanding.
In conclusion, the General Minister gave the friars something to think about upon their return home, reminding them that the ultimate goal remains Jesus Christ and that the strength they should always draw upon is God’s faithfulness. He expressed deep gratitude for how the Lord has worked and urged everyone to convey to their communities the certainty that God continues to work actively within the Order, even through them. Br. Roberto assured them that, if they open themselves to this saving presence, the fruits that will result will be truly astonishing.
The Closing Ceremony and the Next Steps
At the conclusion of the Eucharist, the closing ceremony took place in front of an area decorated with the symbols that had accompanied the entire PCO: images of St. Francis and the Divine Shepherdess, the flags of the nations, and the official logo of PCO IX. In an atmosphere of gratitude and fraternity, the brothers offered a prayer to conclude the gathering, asking for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin under the title of Divine Shepherdess (Patroness of the Capuchin Missions) and placing the sign of incense at the center. Finally, the General Minister, Br. Roberto Genuin, declared the 9th Plenary Council of the Order closed and extinguished the “Candle of the Gathering,” which had been lit during the opening ceremony and had steadfastly accompanied the three weeks of work. The ceremony concluded with farewells from the brothers as they departed to return to their respective circumscriptions scattered throughout the world, where they serve the Order and the Church.
Looking ahead to the next steps of operation, the General Minister clarified that the final text of the document will now require a thorough review process before its official publication.
Indonesian
