On 28 September, Pope Leo XIV spoke in Metz, in the presence of numerous abbots and superiors, about his vision for Europe, with strong references to Saint Benedict. More on this is available in this issue of NEXUS. On 17 September, Pope Leo XIV confirmed the election of Dom Antonio Bran Tecun as the new Abbot General of the Olivetan Congregation. Papal confirmation is necessary because the Abbot General also serves as the Territorial Abbot of Monteoliveto. The Synod of Abbot

10 October 2026 At the Roots of Europe: Notes from the Aventine and the Rest of the World Over the past few months, I have repeatedly reflected on how we Benedictines should deal with the fact that our founder is the principal patron saint of Europe, while today our monasteries are located on all continents and often flourish better outside Europe than here on the Old Continent. This question occupied me back when I was President of the Missionary Benedictines, and even more

10 October 2026 The past few months have revealed an unmistakable Benedictine thread running through the papal calendar. From his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV worked a pair of seemingly impromptu excursions into his holiday itinerary. Whether these visits reflected a quiet appreciation for the monastic charism or merely the irresistible appeal of un buon pranzo benedettino, the Holy Father’s presence has offered warm encouragement to the Confederation. Th

On October 10, 2026, Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz Jin young Lee made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Sujong (Republic of Korea). Sister Maria Rafael Arnaiz was born in Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 1979; she entered Sujong in 2017 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

Dom Manu van Hecke, abbot of the monastery of Sint Sixtus (diocese of Brugge, Belgium) since 1996, offered his resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on September 11th, 2026 On October 8th, 2026, the community of St Sixtus elected Dom Guido van Belle as abbot for an indefinite term. Dom Guido was born in 1959 in Ninove (Belgium). He enter

https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org: A group of youth leaders from the Patronage welcome Pope Leo XIV to Paris – An account by Constance and Laetitia Saturday 26 September 2026 will remain a special day for us, a day we will cherish in our hearts for a long time to come, says Constance. After several hours’ drive, we finally arrived in Paris. And what a thrill it was to see that huge crowd! Nearly 800,000 people had gathered at the Place de la Concorde to attend the Mass cele

On 26 and 27 September 2026, Schlierbach Abbey in Austria celebrated the 300th anniversary of the consecration of its abbey church. Let us pray for this community and ask God to shower it with His blessings! ocist.org https://www.stift-schlierbach.at/

Mother Maria Francesca Righi, abbess of the monastery of Nostra Signora di Valserena (diocese of Voltera, Italy) since 2019, offered her resignation to the Abbot General in the light of ST 40.A of our Constitutions. With the consent of his Council, the Abbot General accepted the resignation, which became effective on September 12th, 2026. On 29th September 2026, the community of Valserena elected Sr. Valeria Carolo as abbess for a six-year term. Mother Valeria was born in 198

On September 24, 2026, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Boa Vista, Sister Liege Zem Zancanaro made her Solemn Profession at the Monastery of Our Lady of Boa Vista (Brazil). Sister Liege was born in Cascavel, Paraná (Brazil) in 1982; she entered Boa Vista in 2017 and made her first profession in 2021. ocso.org

On Wednesday, September 23 20026, the XXII Ordinary Synod of the Cistercian Order began with the Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, presided over by the Abbot General, Dom Mauro Giuseppe Lepori. The theme of the Synod is “Truly seeking God: ad quid venisti? Living our vocation in truth.” It aims to assess the current situation in order to help prepare for the upcoming General Chapter and to reflect on the future of the Order, seeking viable paths forward. We invoke the Holy Spir