The delegates are nearing the conclusion of the conference with summaries on mission, collaboration, and the Fraternity of St. Lawrence, interspersed with voting sessions and a commemoration of the historic meeting in Assisi.
The 9th Plenary Council of the Order (PCO IX) is entering its final phase. On Tuesday, October 27, following the celebration of the Eucharist and morning prayer, the 30 delegates opened the first morning session, continuing their work in discussion groups to reach a consensus. The second morning session marked a turning point with the official start of floor voting on the motions that had been drafted.
In the presence of the General Minister, President of the PCO, and following the opening prayer, the assembly focused on the texts dedicated to the theme of missions, prepared by the drafting committee, which had compiled contributions from the language groups. Following a roll call, the presence of 41 voters was confirmed. For the voting procedure, a visual voting system using colored cards was adopted: green for placet (in favor), red for non placet (against), and yellow for placet juxta modum (in favor with amendments). After completing a trial run with the assistance of three scrutineers to count the votes, the proceedings moved into the substantive discussion of the document on mission, keeping the delegates engaged throughout the afternoon.
The intense pace of work continued on Wednesday, October 28, a day entirely devoted to voting on motions both in the morning and in the afternoon.
A Special Gesture: A Prayer for World Peace
On the evening of Tuesday, October 27, the celebration of vespers featured a special moment. At the conclusion of the prayer, the delegated friars and the community of the Collegio of St. Lawrence of Brindisi gathered to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the historic interfaith meeting for peace promoted by Pope John Paul II in Assisi.
In solidarity with the gathering of religious leaders taking place at the same time in the Seraphic City, the assembly prayed for world peace. The setting was set to be highly evocative: an image of St. Francis, photographs of previous interfaith meetings held by the Popes, symbols of the world’s various religions, and the flags of certain nations currently ravaged by conflict. Each friar participated in the celebration while holding a lit candle.
The testimonies of the delegates and the Order’s missionary spirit
The sessions during the third week also provided an opportunity to hear firsthand accounts and learn about the missionary experiences of various delegates. Particularly moving was the interview with Br. Juan Ricardo Loayza Platas, fourth councilor and member of the Province of Peru, who expressed deep satisfaction at the opportunity to engage with confreres from all five continents. In his remarks, he emphasized how this global dialogue enriches our understanding of the Franciscan mission thanks to the contribution of each friar. Br. Juan Ricardo highlighted how mission and collaboration represent a key element for the Order in balancing its identity and vocation with “otherness,” understood as the movement toward others to proclaim the living Christ. Currently, Br. Juan lives in Lima (Peru) and serves as director of the social ministry Ciudad de los Niños, affiliated with the Fraternity of Mary Immaculate and founded 71 years ago in a desert area with a large population of homeless children by Br. Francesco Penasso (Father Iluminato), a Capuchin missionary; The facility provides shelter and human and technical training to vulnerable minors, guiding them toward an active and informed reintegration into society.
Joining him was Br. Rudolph Pieretti, delegate of the NAPCC (North American Pacific Capuchin Conference), who described participating in the PCO as a deeply inspiring experience, marked by the joy of sharing the talents and stories of so many friars. Br. Rudolph attributed a profoundly prophetic significance to the gathering, describing it as a turning point whose decisions—like a stone cast into a pond—will send ripples of impact throughout the entire Order in the years to come, touching every aspect of Capuchin life. Currently, Br. Rudolph is dedicated—in the United States—to caring for elderly and sick religious at the provincial infirmary, a task he considers a privilege and a clear example of an “intra-mission” lived with dedication and heart.
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