News from the Benedictine Confederation

With great joy, shortly before Christmas, we learned that the Italian abbess Noemi Scarpa OSB of the Abbey of Bastia Umbra was appointed on 15 December as Pontifical Commissioner for the monastery of Tor de’ Specchi.

Tor de’ Specchi is the monastery of the *Oblates of Saint Frances of Rome*, a Benedictine foundation established by the saint in 1433. The previous pontifical commissioner had shown little understanding of Benedictine tradition and most recently, in September, expelled the Benedictine sisters who were studying and teaching in the monastery. This regime has now come to an end, and the new commissioner intends to restore Benedictine stability to the monastery, which is located in the historic centre of Rome.

On 28 November, Abbot Primate Jeremias appointed the former Abbot of Ligugé and long-serving president of AIM, Abbot emeritus Jean-Pierre Longeat, as his delegate for the Benedictine Oblates. Together with a support team yet to be appointed, Abbot Jean-Pierre will foster connections among oblate communities worldwide and initiate preparations for the next World Congress of Oblates.

Nexus - January 2026: https://osb.org/en/2026/01/06/evenements-elections-et-nominations-novembre-decembre/