On the 8th and 10th April, 2025, the friary of St. Francis of Lima was the epicentre of an important meeting for Franciscan life in the Andean-Bolivarian region. The Elective Assembly of the Bolivarian Franciscan Conference (CFB) was held, a space for reflection, prayer and decision-making crucial for the future of the Order in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
During three intense days, the participating friars not only dedicated themselves to discerning the Franciscan mission and contemporary challenges, but also thoroughly evaluated the activities and the achievement of the objectives established during the three-year period 2022-2025. This analysis made it possible to identify successes, challenges and lessons learned to strengthen future planning.
In a fraternal atmosphere of deep dialogue, the Assembly concluded with the election of the new leaders who will lead the CFB over the next three years:
President: Br. Marcos Saravia Orellana, OFM, Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Francis Solano (Peru).
Vice-President: Br. Ernesto Chambi Cruz, OFM, Minister Provincial of the Province of the Twelfth Apostles (Peru).
Secretary General: Br. Henry Arana, OFM, Provincial Secretary of the Province of the Twelve Apostles (Peru).
In addition, the heads of the various areas of animation of the Conference were designated and confirmed:
Secretary for Formation and Studies: Br. Juan Cancio Chávez, OFM, Province of St Francis Solano (Peru).
Secretary for Missions and Evangelization: Br. Óscar Castro, OFM, Province of St. Francis (Quito, Ecuador).
JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) Animator: Br. Jairo Santiago González Ortiz, OFM, Province of the Holy Faith (Colombia).
Animator for Educational Evangelization: Br. Juan José Alania, OFM, Province of the Twelve Apostles (Peru).
The Assembly was also an opportunity to express sincere thanks to the friars who have concluded their service in the presidency of the CFB: Br. José Alirio Urbina Rodríguez (outgoing president), Br. Jesús Barahona (outgoing vice president) and Br. Jorge Luis Torregroza Rojas (outgoing secretary), for their dedication and leadership during their tenure.
Br. César Kulkamp, OFM, General Definitor for Latin America, offered words of motivation to those present, urging them to continue to strengthen missionary collaboration, to discern the signs of the times and to keep alive the spirit of the Franciscan charism in the Bolivarian region. He also encouraged them to build on what had been achieved in the previous three years, hopefully planning the lines of action for the future.
The Elective Assembly of the CFB officially ended at 4:20 p.m. on the 10th April, with the blessing of the newly elected President and with the renewed commitment to continue to build fraternity and serve the mission in the Andean-Bolivarian context, strengthened by the evaluation of the recent past and with a clear vision for the next three years.
With the contribution of the SFBC Communications Office
