From Monday, May 11, to Tuesday, May 19, 2026, an important meeting is being held in Rome between the Minister General and the General Definitory of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) and all the new Provincial Ministers of the Order from around the world.

This gathering, organized at the General Curia of the OFM, aims to strengthen fraternal communion, harmonize the Order’s pastoral and missionary vision, and discuss the current challenges of Franciscan life in various social and ecclesial contexts.

The Province of St. Anthony of Padua in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is represented there by Jean-Baptiste TABARO, the recently appointed Provincial Minister. His presence at this international gathering attests to the Province of St. Anthony of Padua’s involvement in the dynamic of collaboration within the global Franciscan Family.

This meeting also serves as a forum for formation, discernment, and the sharing of experiences among Provincial Ministers called to lead the various Entities of the Order in their respective missions.

Over the course of several days, participants will address various issues related to Franciscan life, evangelization, the formation of the friars, the administration of the Provinces, as well as the pastoral and humanitarian challenges facing the Church in various regions of the world.

Rooted in the spiritual legacy of Francis of Assisi, the Order of Friars Minor remains one of the principal religious congregations of the Roman Catholic Church, present in many countries through pastoral, educational, and social works.