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The Tempo Forte of May took place from the 4th to the 8th at the General Curia “Santa Maria Mediatrice”, in Rome, and was followed, from the 11th to the 19th, by the meeting of the General Definitory with the newly elected Provincial Ministers and Custodes; two other working sessions were held on May 18 and 19.
The General Definitory, in the first session of its work dedicated to prayer, also proceeded with personal sharing; it continued to reflect on the Regulation and additional norms of the 2027 General Chapter and on the contents of the Letter to the Conference Presidents on the profile of the candidates for Minister General and General Definitors to be presented.
The General Definitory met with: Br. Francisco GÓMEZ VARGAS and with Br. Dennis TAYO, for the updates on the work of the General Secretariat of the Missions and Evangelization; Br. Darko TEPERT, for the drafting of the letter to be transmitted to the post-novitiate formators; Br. Daniel RODRIGUEZ BLANCO, on the organization of the Under Ten Chapter 2026; Br. Byron A. CHAMANN ANLEU, for the cooptation of candidates for the Office of Communications; Br. Pasquale BERARDINETTI, for updates on the Office of Automation; Br. Giuseppe BUFFON, for an exchange on the beginning of his service as Rector Magnifico of the Pontifical University Antonianum; Br. Claudio DURIGHETTO and Br. Sergiusz BAŁDYGA, for update on the 2027 General Chapter; Br. Saulo DUARTE, for updates of an economic nature.
The General Definitory
elected:
- Visitator General
- Br. Stipo KLJAJIĆ, for the custody “Annunciation B.V.M.” in Albania and Montenegro, dependent on the Minister General.
- Delegate General
- Br. Derrick YAP, for the custody, “St. Francis”, in Oriente, dependent on the Minister General.
approved the shortlist of candidates for Minister Provincial of:
- Province of Arantzazu, in Spain.
- Prov. “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, in the USA.
- Province of Ireland.
- Prov. “Saints Francis and James”, in Mexico.
- Prov. “Holy Gospel”, in Mexico.
analyzed the report:
- of the Visitators General, on:
- Prov. “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rio de la Plata”, in Argentina.
- Fraternity of the Lateran Penitentiaries.
- of the Delegate General, on:
- Dep. Cust. “Holy Mother of God”, in India.
ratified the Acts of the elections that took place, in the following Entities:
- In Chapter:
- Prov. “Saint Francis of Assisi”, in Vietnam.
- Seraphic Prov. “Saint Francis of Assisi”, in Italy.
- Prov. “Saints Cyril and Methodius”, in Croatia.
- Prov. “Saint Wenceslaus”, in the Czech Republic.
- In the Chapter Congress:
- Prov. “Holy Family”, in Egypt.
- Prov. “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in the USA.
- Prov. “Saint Francis of Assisi”, in Vietnam.
- Prov. “Saint Thomas the Apostle”, in India.
- Outside the Chapter, of:
- Provincial Definitor: Prov. “Holy Cross”, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1.
ratified, subject to conditions, the SSPPs of:
- Prov. “Holy Martyrs of Korea”, in South Korea.
- Prov. “Incarnate Word”, in West Africa.
- Prov. “Most Holy Redeemer” (Dalmatia), in Croatia.
approved the
- Ratio Studiorum: Prov. “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, in the USA.
- Ratio Formationis et Studiorum: Prov. “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in Brazil.
cooptated/elected/appointed:
- Br. Jozue Marcin MISIAK, of the Prov. “Saint Francis of Assisi”, in Poland, at the International College “Saint Anthony”, proposing him to be named Rector of the Basilica “Saint Anthony in Lateran” and naming him Vice Rector of the Students of the “Fraternity Gabriele Allegra”.
- Br. Šimun MARKULIN, of the Prov. “Most Holy Redeemer” (Dalmatia), in Croatia, already named Economo of the International College “Saint Anthony”, naming him Vice Rector of the Students of the “Fraternity Gabriele Allegra”.
- Br. Iurii SEMKO, of the Prov. “St. Michael Archangel”, in Ukraine, Director of the Office of the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, at the General Curia, naming him Assistant to the Procurator General.
- Br. Luis Martín RODRÍGUEZ MUÑOZ, Guardian; Br. Gianluca SCIARILLO, Vicar; e Br. Gwidon HENSEL, bursar, of the Fraternity of the Lateran Penitentiaries, in Rome.
dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order:
- Dispensation from temporary vows: 3.
- Exclaustration/extension: 1
- Secularization ad experimentum: 4.
- Dispensation from solemn vows: 1.
- Dispensation from the responsibilities of the clerical state: 4.
examined new/already pending cases of:
- Dismissal from the Order: 1.
dealt with the following matters concerning the friars:
- Anticipation of solemn profession: 1.
- Admission to the renewal of temporary profession (entity dependent on the Minister General): 8;
- Admission to solemn profession (entity dependent on the Minister General): 1.
- Granting/renewal/exchange of obedience and/or scholarships: 10.
- Obedience for the mission: 1.
dealt with the following matters regarding Houses and real estate:
- Erection of a House of novitiate: 1.
- Suppression: 9.
handled other cases:
- Economic matters: 2.
- Economic requests: 3.
- Various.
The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from the 13th to the 24th of July: given that the General Definitory and the General Secretariat will be engaged in the Under Ten Chapter of Mats (Assisi, July 4-12), I ask you to kindly submit the matters to be dealt with during the Tempo Forte by Friday June 26.
To the praise of Christ and the Poverello of Assisi. Amen!
Rome, May 26, 2026
Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary General