The European Fraternal Convocation of Capuchin post-novitiate brothers and student friars was held from July 23-28, 2025, at the International College of St. Lawrence of Brindisi in Rome. From the formation houses scattered all over Europe came 120 participants including 13 formators. Brothers from Italian formation houses were present as well as those from France, Lebanon, Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia and Croatia. Joining the young friars were General Councilors Bros. Maurizio Placentino, Marek Miszczyński and Leon Budău and the Provincial Ministers of Apulia, Br. Gianpaolo Lacerenza, and of Germany, Br. Helmut Rakowski, representing the two Conferences of Europe and the Mediterranean.
Fraternal Convocation 2025 began on the evening of Wednesday, July 23, with solemn vespers and a multi-ethnic dinner prepared by each formation house with typical fare from the various nations. Music and dancing made the atmosphere festive and fun. In the days that followed, the young friars alternated times for presentation and dialogue with sports and recreational activities interspersed. On Thursday morning, Br. Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Pontifical Household, gave a reflection on evangelical Franciscan minority, offering profound biblical points and sharing from his own experience. That afternoon, a student from Lebanon named Br. Elie, together with Br. Massimo Lorandini, guardian at the Celle di Cortona, and Br. Michele Vanzo, a formator in Viterbo, shared on the topic of peace from their personal experience. Touching was the account of the war in Lebanon, where the Capuchin fraternity stood vigil with civilians during a time of severe calamity.
On Friday, July 25, group work began in which a dialogue concerning formation arose from interaction with the formators and, in the afternoon, a contribution from Br. Gaetano La Speme. On Saturday, the participants joyfully welcomed the brothers of the General Secretariat of Formation and the General Minister, Br. Roberto Genuin, who, with a congenial fraternal style, gave a reflection on the salient features of our charism and their implementation in the Order today. Students and formators dialogued at length with the Minister sharing their desires, requests and reflections.
On Saturday night, time was taken for Eucharistic adoration in the Collegio’s outdoor plaza that prepared for Sunday’s pilgrimage to the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. A long procession of young friars traveled along Via della Conciliazione and St. Peter’s Square animated by singing from the various fraternities. After the Eucharistic celebration at the Altar of the Confessio, the young Capuchins participated in the Angelus, receiving amid shouts of joy a greeting from Pope Leo XIV himself. Solemn Vespers at San Lorenzo al Verano concluded the pilgrimage to Rome. On the morning of Monday, July 28, some groups joined the young people who had come for the Jubilee, others returned to their fraternities. Fraternal Convocation 2025 had as its theme “Leaven of Peace”: a hymn composed by the Capuchin students themselves in the different languages, which described well the desire for fraternity and communion that each one carries in his heart.
