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The Tempo Forte of November took place from the 10th to the 25th at the General Curia “St. Mary Mediatrix”, in Rome. The General Definitory met: on November 11, the governance of the Roman houses dependent on the Minister General, for ongoing formation; from the 19th to the 22nd, the Presidents of the Conferences; and on the 23rd, the brothers who provide service to the Holy See.
The General Definitory, in its first working session, experienced a time of personal narration and exchanged some information on the visits to the different Entities of the Order; specified some themes presented later to the Conference Presidents; shared information on the work of the UFME (= Union of Friars Minor of Europe) Assembly; implemented sharing on the two African Conferences; continued its reflections on the state and prospectives of the Pontifical University Antonianum, in light of the canonical visitation underway; shared some thoughts intended for the Theological-Charismatic Commission on the growth and decline of the Entities of the Order; met with: Br. Joel ESPLANA SULSE and Br. Saulo DUARTE, Bursar and Vice-Bursar General, for updating economic matters, together with Mr. Gianluca GORI, CIRE President; Br. Iurii SEMKO e Br. Joe CONDREN, for updates on the Office of the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults; by remote, Br. Sergiusz BAŁDYGA, Br. Juan I. ALDANA M. and Br. Praveen D’SOUZA, Secretary and Vice Secretary of the 2027 General Chapter, for updates on pre-chapter work; Br. Darko TEPERT, Secretary General for Formation and Studies, on the revision of the Cards on the Centenary of the Easter of St. Francis; Br. Antonio IACONA and Br. Baptist D’SOUZA, Secretary and Delegate of the Secretary General, regarding the job description of the Office of the Delegate of the Secretary General; Br. Byron A CHAMANN A., for updates on the Office of Communications; and Br. Daniel RODRIGUEZ B., coordinator of the Under Ten 2026 Chapter, on the organization of the event.
The General Definitory elected:
- General Visitators:
- Br. Benjamin KABONGO NGELEKA, for the Province of “Our Lady Queen of Peace”, in South Africa.
- Br. Rodrigo DA SILVA SANTOS, for the autonomous Custody “Our Lady of the Seven Joys”, in Brazil.
- Br. Alexis LAWSON, for the Foundation, “Our Lady of Africa” in Congo Brazzaville, dependent on the Minister General.
- Delegates General:
- Br. Mario Wilson RAMOS NOVOA, for the Prov. “Holy Twelve Apostles” and the Prov. “St. Francis Solanus”, in Perù.
- Br. Wanderley GOMES DE FIGUEIREDO, for the autonomous Custody “St. Benedict of the Amazon”, in Brasile.
- To other positions:
- Br. Edson NHATUVE, Vice Secretary General for Formation and Studies.
- Br. Hector Gonzalo COLLIPAL OSSES, Vicar; Br. Ernesto DEZZA, Br. Pietro MESSA, Br. Carlos Esteban SALTO SOLÁ, Br. Giuseppe BUFFON and Br. Adam CZYZ, Discreets, of the International College “St. Anthony”.
- Br. Federico GANDOLFI, President; Br. Jackson JULU and Br. Joseph NGUYEN, Councillors, of the Foundation “St. Francis of Assisi” in Sudan and South Sudan, dependent on the Minister General.
- Mrs. Marianne Mounir Said ABDALLA, member of the Coordinating Committee for the Franciscan Network of the Mediterranean.
The General Definitory approved the list of candidates for Provincial Minister of the:
- Prov. “Holy Martyrs of Korea”, in South Korea.
The General Definitory analyzed the report:
- of the Visitator General, on the:
- Prov. “St. Anthony of the Friars Minor”, in Italy.
- Prov. “St. Michael Archangel”, in Italy.
- Prov. “Incarnate Word”, in West Africa.
- Prov. “St. Clare”, in Mozambique.
- Prov. “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in Madagascar.
- Prov. “St. Michael Archangel”, in Indonesia.
- Custody of the Holy Land.
- Custody “St. Francis”, in FX, dependent on the Minister General.
- Custody “St. Jerome”, dependent on the Prov. “SS. Cyril and Methodius”, in Croatia.
- of the Delegate General, on the autonomous Custody “Our Lady of the Seven Joys”, in Brazil.
- of the Minister Provincial, on the autonomous Custody “St. Benedict of the Amazon”, in Brazil.
- of the General Definitor via link, on the Guardianate “St. Joseph”, in Waterford.
The General Definitory ratified the Acts of the elections which took place:
- In chapter:
- Missionary Prov. “St. Anthony”, in Bolivia.
- Prov. “Assumption B.V.M. del Rio de la Plata”, in Argentina.
- Prov. “St. Francis Solano”, in Argentina.
- Prov. “St. Michael Archangel”, in Indonesia.
- Autonomous Custody “St. Anthony”, in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
- Autonomous Custody “St. Francis”, in FX, dependent on the Minister General.
- In the capitular congress:
- Prov. “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in Italy.
- Prov. “St. Elizabeth”, in Germany.
- Custody of the Holy Land.
- Prov. “Bl. John Duns Scotus”, in France and Belgium.
- Custody “St. Francis”, in FX, dependent on the Minister General.
- Outside of Chapter, of:
- Definitors: Prov. “Immaculate Conception B.V.M.”, in Spain, 1.
- Guardians: Prov. “SS. Cyril and Methodius”, in Croatia, 1; Prov. “Our Lady of Guadalupe”, in USA, 1.
The General Definitory approved:
- Ratio Studiorum: Prov. “Holy Gospel”, in Mexico.
- Ratio Formationis: Prov. “Holy Gospel”, in Mexico.
Dealt with the following cases of separation from the Order:
- Dispensation from temporary vows: 1.
- Exclaustration / extended: 2.
- Secularization ad experimentum: 3.
- Secularization pure et simpliciter: 1.
- Dispensation from solemn vows: 2.
- Dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state: 1.
Examined matters already in progress and new of:
- Dismissal from the Order: 1.
- Graviora delicta: 1.
Dealt with the following matters regarding the brothers:
- Readmission to the Order: 1.
- Admission to ministries (Entity dependent on the Minister General): 1.
- Renewal/change of obedience and/or scholarship: 5.
Dealt with the following matters regarding the Houses and immovable goods:
- Suppression: 26.
- Alienation: 2.
Dealt with the following matters of a different nature:
- Matters of an economic nature: 9.
- Dispensation from sacred orders: 1.
- Various.
The next Tempo Forte is scheduled from December 15 to 19; all the entities of the Order are reminded to send the requests to be submitted to the General Definitory, at the Tempo Forte of January 2026, by Friday, December 19 (only the most urgent requests received by Friday, December 5, will be treated at the Tempo Forte of December).
To the praise of Christ and of the Poverello of Assisi. Amen!
Rome, November 29, 2025
Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order
Br. Antonio M. IACONA, OFM
Secretary General
