Communiqué of the General Definitory concerning the January 2026 Tempo Forte

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The Tempo Forte of January took place from the 12th to 23rd at the Curia General "Santa. Maria Mediatrice", in Rome. 

The General Definitory, in the first session of its work, after an adequate period of time dedicated to prayer, proceeded with the personal narrative; it continued its reflection on some themes related to the General Chapter (presentation of the candidates for Minister and General Definitor by the Conferences, number of General Definitors to be elected, identity and role of the General Definitors,  revision of the current Conferences); he discussed the changes in the Roman Houses dependent on the Minister General; examined the Programme of the Meeting with the new Provincial Ministers and Custodes (to be held from the 11th to 19th May); met: Br. Iurii SEMKO, Director of the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, for updates on the subject; Br. Daniel RODRIGUEZ B., coordinator of the Under Ten Chapter 2026, on the organisation of the event; Br. Darko TEPERT, Secretary General for Formation and Studies, for the revision of the letters to be transmitted to the formators of the postulancy and novitiate, remotely, Br. João MANNES, Visitor of the Pontifical University Antonianum; Br. Sergiusz BAŁDYGA, Br. Juan I. ALDANA M. and Br. Praveen D'SOUZA, of the Secretariat of the General Chapter 2027, for updates on the Chapter work in this preliminary phase; Br. Joel ESPLANA SULSE and Br. Saulo DUARTE, Bursar and Deputy General Bursar, for updates of an economic nature; Br. Franco MIRRI and, remotely, Br. Aidan McGRATH, for updates on the Stratford fraternity; remotely, Br. Teofil CZARNIAK, Visitor of the Prov. "Our Lady of Guadalupe", in the USA. 

The General Definitory 

elected: 

• General Delegates: 
• Br. Jimmy ZAMMIT, Definitor General, for the Prov. "St. Casimir", in Lithuania. 

approved the shortlist of candidates for Minister Provincial of: 

• Prov. ‘Our Lady of the Hungarians", in Hungary. 

analysed the Report: 

• of the Visitors General, on: 
• Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Brazil. 
• Prov. “St. Francis Solano”, in Argentina. 
• Prov. "Assumption of B.V.M.", in Italy. 
• Missionary Prov. "St. Anthony", in Bolivia. 
• Aut. Cust. “St. Anthony”, in Singapore, Malesia e Brunei. 

of the following Entities, ratified the Acts of the elections that took place:  

• In Chapter: 
• Prov. "St. Francis Solano", in Peru. 
• Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Brazil. 
• In the Chapter Congress: 
• Prov. "Assumption of B.V.M.", in Italy. 
• Prov. "St. Clare", in Mozambique. 
• Prov. "St. Francis Solano", in Peru. 
• Prov. "St. Francis of Assisi", in Brazil. 
• Prov. “St. Francis Solano”, in Argentina. 
• Outside the Chapter, of: 
• Vicar: Prov. "The Twelve Apostles", in Peru. 
• Definitors: Prov. "The Twelve Apostle", in Peru, 1. 
• Guardians: Prov. "Sts. Peter and Paul", in Mexico, 1; Cust. aut. "Sacred Heart of Jesus", in Brazil, 4; Prov. "Our Lady of Guadalupe", in the USA, 2; Prov. "St. Clare", in Mozambique, 2. 

ratified, subject to conditions, the SSPPs of: 

• Prov. "St. Francis", in East Africa. 
• Prov. "The Holy Martyrs of Gorcum", in the Netherlands. 
• Missionary Prov. "St. Anthony", in Bolivia. 
• Prov. "Bl. John Duns Scotus", in France and Belgium. 
• Prov. "S. Antonio di Padova", in the Rep. Dem. Cong (Transitional Rules). 
• Cust. “Protomartyrs of Marocco", in Marocco, dip. by Min.  
• Cust. "S. Francis", dip. by Min. Gen. 

ratified the Ratio Studiorium of: 

• Province of Ireland. 

has dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order:  

• Exlustration/extension: 1. 
• Secularization pure et simpliciter: 2. 
• Dispensation from solemn vows: 4. 
• Dispensation from the responsibilities of the clerical state: 5. 

examined new/ongoing cases of:  

• Dismissal from the Order: 2. 

dealt with the following practices concerning the friars: 

• Granting/renewal/exchange of obedience and/or scholarships: 4. 
• Special exceptions: 1. 

dealt with the following practices concerning Houses and real estate: 

• Deletion: 21. 
• Alienation: 1. 
• Interprovincial fraternities: 1. 

has dealt with other cases: 

• Economic demands: 4. 
• Economic matters: 8. 
• Recruitment of employees: 1. 
• Ex voto alienation: 1. 
• Interprovincial collaborations: 1. 
• Miscellaneous. 

The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from the 9th to 20th March 2026; all the Entities of the Order are reminded to send the petitions to be submitted to the General Definitory by Friday the 27th February. 

I remind the Provincial Ministers and Custodes and the Secretaries, if they have not yet accessed the Database and the official Mailbox, to come to an agreement with the General Secretariat to do so. 

To the praise of Christ and the Poverello-Little Poor Man of Assisi. Amen! 

Rome, 29th January 2026  

Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM 
Secretary General