Assembly of the Secretaries of Mission and Evangelization of the CEM

From June 26 to 29, 2026, the Assembly of the Mission and Evangelization Secretaries of the Conference of Southern Europe (CEM) took place in Taranto (Italy), at the convent of San Pasquale Baylon.

The meeting was an important opportunity for discussion, formation, and discernment on the future of the evangelizing mission in the context of Europe and the Mediterranean, in a time marked by secularization, new poverty and the widespread search for hope. A privileged way to renew missionary action has been identified in the collaboration between the OFM Provinces and in the sharing of experiences.

A particularly significant moment was dedicated to Oikos Mediterraneo, the Franciscan project for the integral ecology of the Mediterranean, officially born in the convent of Taranto in 2023 and in collaboration with the Pontifical University Antonianum. Oikos consists of concrete paths of research, training, territorial care, social promotion and interreligious dialogue, and involves young people, researchers, teachers, friars and the Poor Clares.

Thanks to the interventions of Fr. Francesco Zecca, president of Oikos Mediterraneo, Paolo Cancelli, vice president and head of the PUA Development Office, Pierpasquale Antonante, environmental engineer engaged in the Oikos routes, and Fr. Gabriele Graniello, of the Oikos Board of Directors, the participants delved into the value of integral ecology as a paradigm of evangelization, following the models of Oikos at the service of new pastoral paths.

Ample space has also been dedicated to the laboratories, animated by Br. Nicola Violante, Minister Delegate of the CEM Council and Provincial Minister of the Province of S. Michele Arcangelo, and from Br. Matteo Brena, Secretary of Mission and Evangelization of the Conference.

The discussion concerned the process of reorganization of the provincial Secretariats and the Conference, deepening their role of coordination, pastoral animation and support for provincial governments in promoting the Life and Mission Project of each Entity.

The Assembly also deepened the new Ratio Evangelizationis of the Order, wondering how it can be transposed and implemented in the different Entities of the Conference. The reflection focused on the opportunities offered by the document to integrate more effectively the missionary dimension into the projects of life and evangelization of the fraternities.

At the end of the work, the participants expressed the desire to continue the common path, identifying design lines capable of supporting the growth of the new Conference and offering evangelical responses to the challenges of the Mediterranean. In a context marked by fragmentation, conflicts and loss of hope, the Assembly renews its commitment to live the mission as an announcement of the Gospel, testimony of fraternity and service to the dignity of every person, in the awareness that evangelization takes shape first of all through processes of listening, communion and care of the common home.

With the contribution of the Assembly of Secretaries of Missions and Evangelization of the CEM