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The InterMonasteries Alliance is expanding In 2025, the AIM updated its ecclesiastical statutes by broadening its partnerships and emphasising the reality of a structure shared by the three major orders that follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. In line with these changes, the AIM is embarking on a significant turning point in its development, adopting new civil statutes, a new name and a new visual identity to promote its identity, highlight its international dimension, and unify and simplify its communications. One name, one language, one message The acronym AIM has had several meanings over the course of its history. The most recent name, “Alliance Inter Monastères”, had become a hindrance to international communication and was no longer conducive to the association’s current development. Instead of having to translate—no easy task given the acronym—presentations and letterheads into every language, we now have a single name, a single logo, a single identity—for all languages and all countries. The Latin name Associatio Internationalis Monastica addresses these challenges with clarity. As the universal language of the Church, Latin is immediately recognised throughout the Catholic world. It highlights the institutional dignity of the AIM in harmony with its role of coordination among the major monastic families. The acronym AIM remains unchanged as a strong and internationally recognisable symbol: a united monastic fraternity, at the service of the Church’s mission in the world. A development rooted in heritage After many years of using a logo that was beginning to show its age, the AIM decided to undertake a complete overhaul of its visual identity. The aim is clear: to modernise the association’s image whilst ensuring consistency across its communication materials in all languages, serving the three orders it brings together. Far from being a break with the past, this change is part of a wider trend towards a return to classic styles seen in many cultural and institutional spheres. AIM responds to this with a visual identity that is at once reassuring, universal and conveys its spiritual message: combining ora and labora at a single glance. A logo steeped in history At the heart of this new identity sits the Medal of Saint Benedict, reinterpreted as an institutional seal that is perfectly suited to an international coordinating organisation and immediately conveys the legitimacy and long-standing history of the AIM. A colour palette that conveys messages The new brand identity is built around three carefully chosen colours: Green, a liturgical colour, symbolising generosity, hope and life; gold, present throughout the iconography, which distinguishes AIM from the world of generalist NGOs; and parchment, evoking naturalness and simplicity, and conveying kindness. The Cinzel typeface, classic and legible, completes the ensemble. A brand identity designed to raise the profile of AIM This development addresses a strategic challenge: to raise awareness of AIM far beyond its usual circles, to engage the general public and partners, and to attract and retain international donors. The new branding will be rolled out gradually across all of the association’s communications channels.

On Monday 11 May 2026, the Bishop of Sokodé (Togo), Bishop Célestin-Marie GAOUA, welcomed a group of Benedictine Missionary Sisters from Tutzing. It is with hearts filled with gratitude and hope that we joyfully welcome the opening of our new community of the Benedictine Missionary Sisters of Tutzing in Togo. This new foundation marks an important moment in our missionary journey, as we continue to respond to God’s call to serve, to evangelise and to build communion amongst his people. Warmly welcomed by Bishop Célestin-Marie Gaoua and the faithful of the Diocese of Sokodé, our community begins its mission rooted in the Benedictine values of prayer, hospitality, simplicity and service. We come not only as missionaries, but also as sisters and companions, ready to walk alongside the local Church and the people of Togo. May this new community become a place of faith, peace and encounter — where God is sought in daily life and where every person is welcomed with love and dignity. Entrusting this mission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica, we pray that our presence may bear fruit in unity, compassion and hope for generations to come. “Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus” — That God may be glorified. osbtutzing.org https://www.radiomariasaintetherese.tg/2026/05/accueil-des-benedictines-missionnaires-de-tutzing-dans-le-diocese-de-sokode/

On 22 May 2026, Father Abbot Bernard Lorent Tayart, President of the AIM, was at Chevetogne Abbey to attend the meeting of the Encyclopédie bénédictine. This is a Foundation that provides grants for historical research on the Order of Saint Benedict, in particular to the Revue bénédictine, the journal Mabillon and also the AIM Bulletin. The Abbot of Chevetogne, the Prior of Maredsous and Abbot Bernard represent the Benedictines, alongside researchers from the universities of Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL), Leuven (KUL), Liège and Ghent. Chevetogne Abbey

The AIM promotes and encourages cooperation and solidarity among monasteries; contributes to the human, cultural, and spiritual formation of the communities; fosters and supports exchanges between communities; supports funding projects submitted by the communities; and publishes a newsletter and a Bulletin twice a year in six languages. FINANCIALLY SUPPORT AIM THE AMTN ASSOCIATION THE BENEDICTUS FOUNDATION PROMOTE COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY BETWEEN THE MONASTERIES of the Benedictine family throughout the world Welcome to Alliance InterMonastères We work for the growth and development of monastic life today around the world The Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM) is an Association of monasteries promoting cooperation, solidarity and mutual aid between communities. AIM contributes to the human, cultural and spiritual training of communities, encourages and supports exchanges between communities and supports the financing of projects presented by the communities. MONASTIC LIFE Monastic formation Regional monastic associations Reference texts: The Mirror of Monastic Life the monastic Dream... Read More >>> COMMUNITIES History of the Benedictine Confederation History of the International Communion of Benedictines Contact details of monasteries by continent and country. Read More >>> OUR PROJECTS Each semester, projects are presented here which are sent to AIM in order to support them. These projects concern: Formation at all levels, constructions, aid for new foundations, lucrative activities and development works (health, education, agriculture.) Read More >>> Request for financing 1,500 YEARS OF MONTE CASSINO - Places of Hope A Jubilee for the Entire Benedictine Family In 2029, the family of Orders living according to the Rule of Saint Benedict will celebrate a jubilee of exceptional significance: the 1,500th anniversary of the founding of Monte Cassino, the cradle of Western monastic tradition. This anniversary, commemorated at the initiative of the Benedictine Confederation on the site jubilee.osb.org, invites every community — Benedictine, Cistercian, and Trappist — to renew its fidelity to the Gospel and to monastic hospitality. The AIM, which has served the communion between monasteries throughout the world since 1961, is wholeheartedly joining this jubilee momentum. This milestone coincides with a moment of institutional renewal within AIM itself: revision of its statutes, strengthening of its governance structures, and the deployment of new digital tools in the service of its members. The jubilee of 2029 is therefore not merely a commemoration: it is an invitation to work together to build an international monastic alliance that is even more vibrant and united, so that we may bring together a little of Heaven down to earth. ABOUT RECENT NEWS 1 2 3 4 OSB Order of Saint Benedict The news presented here are those of the male and female monasteries belonging to the Benedictine Confederation. Read the news OCSO Cistercian Order of Strict Observance This Order brings together the monasteries of the reform of the Order of Cîteaux by Abbot de Rancé in the 17th century. Read the news OCist. Cistercian Order The monasteries represented here belong to the Cistercian Order. Read the news SPECIAL Special news and events Here you will find news about various communities or specific events. Read the news OTHER NEWS BULLETIN NEWSLETTERS LETTER FROM THE AMTM AIM around the world 1,157 COMMUNITIES WOMEN 1,762 COMMUNITIES AND MISSIONS OSB - OSCO - OCIST - CISTERCIAN FAMILY See more > 605 COMMUNITIES MALE

Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB) The Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB) The Communio Internationalis Benedictarum (CIB) was born in 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya, during a meeting of representatives of female Benedictine communities from around the world. It had been about thirty years since efforts had been made to bring together through a fraternal bond the nuns and sisters affiliated with the Benedictine Confederation. If each of the communities has its own charisma and particularity, the sisters have learned to recognize and appreciate their unity in the rule of Saint Benedict and in the Benedictine tradition, which has spread across the cultures and countries of the world. The CIB allowed the sisters to experience in depth and in a concrete way all the richness of the Benedictine charism, which is expressed in the life of their communities. Brief history of the CIB The Benedictine Confederation Between 1886 and 1893 Pope Leo XIII took steps towards the establishment of the Benedictine Confederation, the structure for the network of male congregations existing at the time, with the Abbot Primate for unity at the head of the community at Sant'Anselmo in Rome. The aim of the Confederation was to create and consolidate international contacts between male Benedictine monasteries in order to promote the common tradition of Western monasticism and to prepare monks through serious study for their service in the Church in the 20th century. There was no parallel foundation for the Benedictines. Gradually monasteries and women's congregations were admitted by association into the Benedictine Confederation, but not with full rights. Their status in the Confederation did not give them the possibility of helping each other through regular meetings and international contacts. First steps to form a network between Benedictines after Vatican II In Paragraph 23 of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis , this conciliar document concerning the renewal of religious life, conferences and councils of major superiors are expressly encouraged as a means of bringing small communities out of isolation and sharing potential. Since 1893 the Congress of Abbots was such a conference of major superiors comprising all Benedictine monasteries. From 1965 it became clear that something had to be done to create a similar possibility for the Benedictines. 1968 The Synod of Abbot Presidents around Abbot Primate Rembert Weakland voted that the Primate would constitute a Commission for the nuns and sisters and that this Commission would be divided into two sections, one for the nuns and one for the sisters, but with the ( the ?) same secretary for both. It was also decided that these two consultative groups would be made up of an equal number of men and women (Circular letter to the Benedictines of October 28, 1968). These two Commissions met separately around the Abbot Primate a number of times over the following years. 1972 The Synod of Presidents decides to invite the Commission of Nuns and several prioresses general of Benedictine sisters as observers to the Congress of Abbots. 1980 The Confederation organized a centenary symposium to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict. Fifty-five abbesses and prioresses were invited to represent the women. It was the first time that Benedictine abbesses and prioresses, nuns and sisters from various traditions and from various parts of the world met in Rome, but then only as guests at the Congress of Abbots. 1984 The two Commissions meet together for the first time to discuss the possibility of a common meeting of nuns and sisters. 1987 The Benedictine sisters invite sixteen nuns and forty sisters for an assembly on the implications of the rule of Saint Benedict for the life of Benedictines, to the Casa Santo Spirito , general house of the Benedictine sisters of Tutzing in Rome. This first symposium organized by the sisters had a pioneering role for cooperation between nuns and sisters. 1988 The two Commissions merged around Abbot Primate Victor Dammertz. Members were to be representatives of eighteen regions of the world, international congregations and the AIM. An Executive Committee was to organize the following symposium, common to all. The Executive Committee wrote a first draft of the statutes with the help of Abbot Primate Victor Dammertz. For more details, see the CIB website: http://www.benedictines-cib.org/ List of Regions sending delegates to the CIB Conference 1. Italy, Malta 2. Spain, Portugal 3. France, Israel website 4. Great Britain, Ireland 5. Benelux 6. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia (AASS) 7. Poland 8. Croatia 9. USA, Canada (with 3 delegates) 10. ABECCA (Benedictine-Cistercian Association of the Caribbean and the Andes: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bahamas, Cuba, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Bolivia, Venezuela) 11. Brazil 12. Cono-Sur (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay) 13. Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam 14. Philippines 15. Oceania 16. East Africa 17. Central and West Africa, Madagascar 18. South Africa, Namibia, Angola 19. India, Sri Lanka Member communities of the European Benedictine Congregation of the Resurrection : Germany: Dinklage, Bonn-Steinfeld, Alexanderdorf France: Simiane-Collongue Belgium: Liège and Hurtebise Netherlands: Oosterhout and Egmond-Binnen Sweden: Omberg (Vadstena) Lithuania: Kaunas Spain: Montserrat Member communities of the Monastic Congregation of Saint Hildegard (Spain): Alba de Tormes, Algezares, Alzuza, Aranda de Duero, Barcelona, Burgos, Cuenca, Cuntis, El Tiemblo, Estella, Jaca, León, Madrid Encarnación, Madrid Natividad, Oñati, Oviedo, Palacio de Benaver, Sahagún, San Pedro de las dueñas, Santiago de Compostela, Trasmaño, Valfermoso de las Monjas, Zamora, casa San José Zamora, Zaragoza. COMMUNITIES 6 There are numerous communities in the world today that follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are present on five continents. Here, presented country by country, the contact details of all these communities. Europe 0 Africa 0 North America 0 South America 0 Asia 0 Oceania 0 See all countries See all communities

AIM accounts The largest part of the AiM budget is reserved for donations for monasteries living under the Rule of Saint Benedict in continents other than Europe and North America. Here we say the latest statement of AIM accounts. Please note that secretarial costs are very low.