VI OFM Under Ten Chapter of Mats — Assisi, 2026

About us

The VI OFM Under Ten Chapter of Mats will be held in Assisi, Italy, from 4 to 12 July 2026, in a context of particular significance for the entire Franciscan Family: the commemoration of the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. This anniversary offers an opportunity to renew the spirit that inspired the mission of the Poverello and to rediscover the vitality of a vocation which, through the centuries, continues to generate fraternity, service, and hope in the world. 

The gathering brings together friars of the Order of Friars Minor with fewer than ten years of solemn profession, coming from the various Entities and Conferences of the Order. In this commemorative and jubilee context, the Chapter of Mats presents itself as a privileged space to live international fraternity in a concrete way, to discern the challenges of our time, and to rekindle the Franciscan missionary commitment in today’s world.

Objectives

The VI OFM Under Ten Chapter of Mats has three fundamental objectives. First, to offer participants an authentic experience of internationality and interculturality: the Order of Friars Minor is present in many countries and cultures, and this diversity is a spiritual and human richness that reflects the universality of the Franciscan charism. Bringing together friars from different regions of the world makes it possible to discover the beauty of a fraternity that transcends borders, languages, and cultural contexts. 

Second, the Under Ten Chapter seeks to open a space for reflection on the realities lived by young friars within the Order. The hopes, difficulties, and challenges that arise in fraternal and missionary life need to be listened to and discerned together, in a synodal spirit that values the voice and experience of each brother. From shared discernment, concrete proposals may emerge to be offered to the Entities, the Conferences, and the General Chapter of 2027. 

Finally, the gathering aims to be a celebration of the gift of the Franciscan missionary vocation: a time of gratitude and renewal, in which friars are called to reaffirm their commitment to universal fraternity, the promotion of peace, and a solidarity-based presence on the world’s peripheries.