“From October 11 to 31, 2026, in Rome, the Order will gather to reflect on the missionary dimension of our charism. Find out how to follow the proceedings online and watch the live streams to join the global fraternity.”
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is moving forward and is currently engaged in an intensive process of preparation for the now imminent Ninth Plenary Council of the Order (PCO IX), to be held in Rome at the Collegio San Lorenzo da Brindisi from October 11 to 31, 2026, under the title: “The Missionary Dimension of Our Charism in the Church and in Today’s World”
The Plenary Councils of the Order
The Capuchin Order has already had eight PCO gatherings, which have analyzed the challenges and fundamental themes of our life and charism, such as fraternity, poverty, formation, minority, work, etc. The purpose of these intensive, general-interest events is to explore in depth the specific aspects of our evangelical identity, thereby preparing reflections aimed at our spiritual and practical renewal.
Our event was conceived and structured based on the guidance from the most recent General Chapter in 2024, which called for organizing an event involving all the friars of the Order to reflect together on mission, fraternal collaboration, and the Fraternities of St. Lawrence. These are three interconnected topics, although they are not of equal importance, since the last one—the Fraternities of St. Lawrence—is a specific attempt to put the other two into practice, without claiming to be the only way to do so.
Preparations, which officially began in June 2025 with the appointment of a preparatory committee, are proceeding at a brisk pace thanks to the various offices of the General Curia and the translators—and, of course, they directly involve those who must travel to Rome, where the PCO will be held. The meeting will bring together experts from various levels of the Church and 30 delegates chosen by the Order’s nine conferences, who will serve as global representatives, in addition to the entire General Council and the various officials necessary for the conduct of the assembly.
This special assembly, which is both a means of consultation and discernment, is part of our journey toward a milestone that is extremely significant for us all: the 500th anniversary of our charism, which we will celebrate in 2028.
Join Us Online!
Given the nature of the topics, which touch on aspects of our Capuchin life, all the friars throughout the world should be involved and are called to reflect. The PCO is not just for the delegates present in Rome; rather, it is a moment of grace for the entire worldwide fraternity. For this reason, and to allow all friars of the Order to follow the PCO, a live stream will be available during the first week (October 13–17), when the main presentations and testimonies from friars in “Mission,” “Collaboration,” and the “St. Lawrence Fraternities” will be shared. The sessions will take place via the Zoom platform; therefore, registration is required for friars interested in following the PCO proceedings. On the eve of the PCO, we will provide precise details regarding the schedule for the sessions.
In addition, as you have already seen, our website features a specific section dedicated to the PCO, which will be continuously updated throughout this period to provide updates on the progress of the work and highlight the most significant developments (www.ofmcap.org).
To sign up to participate in the live streams, click the link below:
https://form.jotform.com/262722819592062