The 10th General Chapter of the Secular
Franciscan Order opened in Rome on November 15, 2002. Capitulars from around the world,
including the TOR General Spiritual Assistant, the Very Rev. Michael J. Higgins, gathered
at the residence of the Christian Brothers on Via Aurelia. On Tuesday, March 19th,
Encarnaci�n Del Pozo, SFO, from Madrid was elected as the new Minister General of the
Order.
The chapter members had the tremendous privilege of having a private
audience with the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, who challenged them to persevere in
their Franciscan way of life.
The Chapter closed on Saturday, November
23.
We also have the pleasure to report that the SFO in Italy is continuing to move
towards the unity demonstrated by the first national elective chapter of the Order which
was held in Frascati in April of this year. The inclusion of that part of the SFO in Italy
which has been traditionally tied to the Friars Minor is expected to occur in the not too
distant future. Various appeals to the Congregation of the Institutes of Consecrated Life
and Societies of Apostolic Life which have tried to block this union have been found to be
without merit by both the Congregation and by the Supreme Tribunal of the Segnatura at the
Vatican. It is hoped that this move will encourage the fraternities which are assisted by
the OFMs to join in the movement towards unity of the SFO in Italy.
