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The Abbot General of the Cistercian Order presided over the celebration marking the 900th anniversary of the presence of the Cistercian Monastery of San Benito in Talavera de la Reina (Spain). Following the Eucharist, the Ars Antiqua Choir—composed of alumni of the Valle de los Caídos School of Chant—performed a concert of Gregorian chant. (March 21, 2026) ocist.org

"Transmitting the charism in the service of governance" is the theme of the 105th Assembly of the Union of Superiors General (USG), scheduled from May 27 to 29 in Sacrofano (Rome). The proceedings will open with contributions from two theologian-biblical scholars, Fr. Silvio Barbaglia of the Diocese of Novara and Fr. Maurizio Bevilacqua, a Claretian, on the meaning of charism and its transmission. Thursday, May 28 will be dedicated to the testimony of three Superiors General—Fr. Ignasi Fossas Colet of the Sublacense-Cassinese Congregation, Fr. Sergio Rodriguez Ramirez of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, and Fr. Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Friars Minor—on their experience in transmitting the charism, followed by discussion through conversation in the Spirit. On Friday, May 29, the Superiors General will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with officials of the Disciplinary Section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: Msgr. John Kennedy, Secretary of the Disciplinary Section, and Fr. Robert Geisinger, Promoter of Justice, will answer participants' questions, ensuring the anonymity of those submitted in advance. Article by Riccardo Benotti (SIR News Agency) Registrations open until April 12, 2026 https://www.usgroma.org/en/

Mother Ana Carmen Moneo Castel-Ruíz, titular prioress of Armenteira (archdiocese of Santiago di Compostella, Spain), offered her resignation to the Abbot General. The Abbot General, with the consent of his Council, accepted the resignation, which became effective on 19 February 2026. On 16 March 2026, the community elected Sr. Paula Maria Télles Gonzalés as titular prioress for a six-year term. Mother Paula Maria was born in 1967 in Pontevedra (Spain). She entered the monastery of Armenteira in 1997 and made her solemn profession in 2002. At the time of her election, she was the subprioress of the community. ocso.org

History of monastic congregations The Benedictine Confederation At the present moment all Benedictine monasteries belong to an organisation called the Benedictine Confederation, whose head, the Abbot Primate, resides in Rome. It is a relatively young organisation, founded by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. Originally St Benedict did not foresee any organisational structure between monasteries: each lived in complete autonomy under the vigilant eye of the local bishop. For various reasons, in the course of centuries, monasteries formed groups, often because of geographical proximity or because they were founded from the same monasteries and followed the same rule of life. Thus in the ninth century, under the aegis of the Carolingian Kings and Benedict of Aniane, monasteries achieved a certain union with similar usages. A century later a large number of monasteries grouped together under the aegis of Cluny, a grouping which would later lead to the regular ‘Orders’. In the twelfth century, under the leadership of St Bernard, Cistercian monasteries constituted themselves a real structured Order on hierarchical lines. Seeing the advantages of this, various Benedictines tried to follow their example by making regional associations. However, this movement was far from being general. As a second stage Pope Benedict XII attempted in the fourteenth century to apply the principles of unification and centralisation to the Benedictines, with only partial success. However, a number of abbeys did group themselves together by countries and set up national Congregations. That was how the English, Italian, Hungarian Congregations, etc, came to be formed in the face of all political changes of fortune. Pope Leo XIII in his desire for unity decided to federate the Congregations into a single organisation, and in 1893 decreed the ‘Benedictine Confederation’. Nevertheless, the Congregations, jealous of their privileges and their traditions, retained their own structures and internal organisations. Some of them preferred an abbacy for a limited time while others retained life abbacies. One congregation had a single noviciate for all the monasteries, while others had as many noviciates as monasteries; for some congregations parish ministry was the norm, for others the exception; for one congregation the missionary apostolate was a specific aim, while for others it was categorically excluded. Thus each retained its own rights and specificity. In short, each Benedictine Congregation (and at present there are twenty of them) was organised as an autonomous religious Order, with its own instruments of government (Abbot President, Abbot General or Archabbot), its own General Chapter (with the supreme right of legislation) and its own Constitutions, and so on. The Congregations are of different sizes; some of them consist of a thousand monks, others barely a hundred. The same disparity exists in the number of monasteries: the Hungarian Congregation numbers only one great monastery in Hungary and another recent creation in Brazil. By contrast, the Congregation of Subiaco is spread over several European countries, in Africa, the Philippines and Vietnam, to the extent that it is divided into several provinces. Some Congregations can boast of several centuries of history, such as those of Vallumbrosa or Camaldoli, while others are quite young, such as the Congregation of Cono-Sur (Latin America), created in 1976. If the Congregations differ from one another by their structure and their activity, nevertheless they are all deeply marked by the Benedictine spirit, eager to put into practise what St Benedict envisaged in his Rule. They have sufficient common resemblance to make it possible to come together as one Benedictine family. At the head of the Confederation there is an Abbot Primate, elected for a fixed term by the body of superiors; he resides at the Abbey of Sant’Anselmo in Rome, and represents the Confederation to the Holy See. CONFEDERATED BENEDICTINE CONGREGATIONS • Cassinese Congregation, stemming from the ancient Congregation of Santa Justina founded in 1408. This Congregation was incorporated into the Congregation of Subiaco on 7th February, 2013. The Subiaco Congregation became the Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation • English Congregation, founded in 1336 and restored in 1619 • Hungarian Congregation, founded in 1514 and restored in 1639 • Swiss Congregation, founded in 1602 • Austrian Congregation, established in 1625 • Bavarian Congregation, founded in 1684 • Brazilian Congregation, stemming from the Portuguese Congregation and set up in 1827 • Congregation of Solesmes, established in 1837 • American Cassinese Congregation, set up in 1855 • Subiaco-Cassinese Congregation, set up as the Subiaco Congregation in 1872 and divided into 9 geographical provinces. At the incorporation of the Cassinese Congregation in 2013 it acquired its present name. • Congregation of Beuron, set up in 1873 • Swiss-American Congregation, set up in 1881 • Congregation of St Ottilien, founded in 1884 • Congregation of the Annunciation, founded in 1920 • Slavonic Congregation, set up in 1945 • Congregation of Vallumbrosa, set up in 1036 • Congregation of Camaldoli, set up in 1113 • Silvestrine Congregation, founded in 1231 • Congregation of Cono-Sur, set up in 1976 A few monasteries, belong to no Congregation, are directly under the Abbot Primate. 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

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

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 Some dates to remember for 2026 concerning the training courses offered by the various Orders under the Rule of Saint Benedict: OSB (see osb.org): • Studium for monastic oblates: 5-24 July 2026 (course in English) • Leadership and the Rule of Saint Benedict: 5-18 July 2026 (course in English) • Monastic aggiornamento: 4-24 July 2026 (course in English). OCSO (see ocso.org): • Course for new superiors: 11-24 November 2026, at the Casa Divin Maestro, Rome. OCist (see ocist.org): • Online training course: 4-8 May 2026. Course theme: ‘I make all things new’ (Rev 21); how can Christ renew everything, and how do we open ourselves to this renewal of our monastic life? • Online course of the Commissio Liturgica Cisterciensis: 27-28 July 2026. Course theme: ‘Liturgical inculturation’. • Monastic Formation Course (CFM): 24 August - 18 September 2026. In addition, for the OCist, the 22nd Ordinary Synod will take place from 23 to 27 September 2026 at the Order's Generalate in Rome. ABOUT RECENT NEWS 1 2 3 4 5 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