On the 4th May , the Secular Franciscan Order of Italy, meeting in Assisi, elected its new National Council: the fraternity of Lay Franciscans will be led by Luca Piras, in his second term as President, Sara Mentzel, Vice-President, and, in the role of councilors, Luca Castiglioni, Cosimo Laudato, Alberto Petracca, Claudia Pecoraro, Enrico Diamanti, Enrica Sarrecchia, Matteo Confente.
The Secular Franciscan Order was born from the heart of St. Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century and recognizes itself as heir and continuator of the lay dimension of its Founder: its members commit themselves with their profession to live the Gospel in the manner of Francis in their secular state, observing the Rule approved by Pope Paul VI on the 24th June, 1978.
The elected Council will be called to accompany over 1,000 local fraternities distributed throughout the country, for a total of about 17,500 Secular Franciscans. They were represented during the Chapter in Assisi by about 150 members of the Order, coming from the various regions of Italy.
