From 15 to 21 October 2022, Br Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General, accompanied by Br Konrad Grzegorz Cholewa, Definitor General, visited the Provinces of St Wenceslas of Bohemia and Moravia in the Czech Republic and of the Most Holy Saviour in Slovakia.
The first stage of the visit was in the Czech Republic, where the Minister met all the friars of the Province. The Minister presided at Mass in Prague on the 10th anniversary of the beatification of the martyrs of Prague. During his homily, he spoke of the martyrs' witness as "a community united by love for the Lord" and that it is "such a bond that leads one to give one's life". He concluded by saying that "the best way to thank the Lord for giving them as an example to the whole Church is to overcome divisions and be one heart and one soul".
Continuing his visit to the Czech Republic, the Minister visited the Poor Clares of the Monastery of St. Agnes in Prague and, in Moravská Třebová, met the friars who are living among the poor.
Br Jakub Sadilek, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of the Czech Republic, shared his experience with the presence of the Minister General: "I am very grateful for this visit of our Minister General and our Definitor General, Br Konrad. I think this is a part of the presence of St Francis. I was struck by the words of the Minister who encouraged us to live and deepen contemplative prayer, evangelisation and to have contact with the poor by living with them".
On 19 October, the Minister General, accompanied by the General Definitor, continued his visit to the Province of the Most Holy Saviour in Slovakia. Here he met with the Provincial Definitory, guardians, formators and formandi. In the friary of Trnava, he met with the 80 friars of the Province.
In addition to the friars, the Minister also met refugee families from Ukraine in Pruské, offering them words of greeting and comfort.
After visiting the friars of Slovakia, the Minister also visited the friars of the Province of the Immaculate Conception of Poland, meeting the guardians of the five Franciscan provinces and the Ministers Provincial.
