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 celebrated by Pope Leo XIV. Young people, families, children, the elderly… all generations were united in the same faith, the same hope and the same joy. When the Popemobile appeared on the giant screens, a huge cheer went up: ‘Long live Pope Leo!’ The Vatican’s white and yellow flags were waving in every direction. Then, just as the Popemobile was driving down the Champs-Élysées, the sun came out. It was a magnificent moment. We almost felt as though the heavens themselves were taking part in this great celebration. For me, that day was particularly moving. On several occasions, I had tears in my eyes. It wasn’t sadness, quite the opposite. It was a deep emotion, difficult to put into words, as if something were touching my heart directly. Seeing so many people gathered together in calm, joy and peace made a deep impression on me. In the midst of such a huge crowd, there was neither violence nor disorder. Just smiles, songs, prayers and that very strong sense of experiencing something truly great, all together. At a time when some churches are sometimes almost empty, seeing such a large crowd gathered together in their faith did me a world of good. It restored my hope. It also reminded me that we are not alone in believing, praying and wanting to live out our faith. Laëtitia, too, was deeply moved by this experience. She shares her thoughts with great simplicity: “It was an intense experience and a very interesting one to go through. Living out my faith with the Servants of the Poor, but also as part of such a large group, was a first for me. It’s an experience I’d love to have again. Admittedly, the wait was long and the day tiring, but I have no regrets about having been part of it.” Her words sum up well what we were able to experience. Yes, we waited a long time. Yes, the day was tiring. But how fortunate we were to have been able to experience such a moment! In the end, the tiredness paled in comparison to the joy of having been there, together, at the heart of this vast gathering. That day also allowed us to share a wonderful moment of communion. Communion amongst ourselves, with everyone present, but also with those who were unable to make the journey and whom we kept in our thoughts and prayers. We leave with our minds full of memories and, above all, with something even deeper in our hearts: a renewed faith, greater hope and the joy of having shared this experience together. A huge thank you to the Servants of the Poor, and particularly to our Sister Jeanne Maia, for enabling us to experience this exceptional day. Thank you, Most Holy Father, for coming to meet us as a Father. https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org/pape-leon-a-paris-une-journee-qui-restera-gravee-dans-nos-coeurs/ To support AIM’s projects, you can make a donation: https://www.aimintl.org/en/sustain

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 1983 in Milan (Italy). She entered the monastery of Valserena in 2010 and made her solemn profession in 2016. At the time of her election, she was the temporary professed director of the community. ocso.org https://www.valserena.it/

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 Spirit, together with the Virgin Mary—Mother of the Church—and the Saints of our Order, for the success of this synodal gathering. ocist.org

By Abbot President Javier Aparicio Suarez, Ottilien Congregation Once a year, the Abbot Primate convenes all the Presidents of the Benedictine Confederation for the Synod. This last week we met in a rather different setting from Sant’Anselmo: at the Benedictine Monastery of Gihindamuyaga in Rwanda, of the Annunciation Congregation. Perhaps the familiar expression primus inter pares could be slightly adapted for the occasion: “Primas… inter pares.” Primas is also the title traditionally used for the Abbot Primate. For a few days, therefore, our Primas, Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder, found himself quite literally inter pares. Behind the wordplay lies something quite characteristic of the Benedictine Confederation. We do not constitute a centralized order. Our monasteries and Congregations enjoy considerable autonomy, and yet we belong to one Benedictine family. The Synod is one of the places where this peculiar combination of autonomy and communion becomes particularly visible. The Confederation: what holds us together? A substantial part of every Synod is dedicated to the life of the Confederation. The report of the Abbot Primate provided an overview of developments during the past year and opened the way for questions and discussion. Several concrete matters followed: the ongoing revision of the Lex Propria, preparations for the Abbot Congress in 2028, the Benedictine calendar, relations with the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB), the Oblates, the Catalogus, AIM and the formation programme for new abbots. At first sight, some of these matters can appear rather administrative. But behind them lies an important question: what does it mean today to belong to a worldwide Benedictine Confederation? Sant’Anselmo: Unser gemeinsames Haus A second major part of the Synod was dedicated, as every year, to Sant’Anselmo. The Prior, Rector and the new Treasurer, Fr Korbinian Birnbacher from Salzburg, presented their respective reports, allowing the Synod to consider the life of the community, the Atheneum and the economic situation. Questions concerning safeguarding, financial regulations, the subsidium, the visitation of Sant’Anselmo and the approval of the Statues for Collegio Sant’Ildegarda (the new residence for nuns and sisters) were also part of the agenda. Sant’Anselmo remains one of the most visible expressions of what we share as Benedictines. It is simultaneously a monastery, a place for studies and formation, an academic institution and a meeting point for Benedictines from very different countries and traditions. For our own Congregation this is particularly important. The increasing number of our young monks studying at Sant’Anselmo reminds us that its future is not a distant Roman concern. What happens there directly affects the formation of the new generation of some of our confreres Different Congregations, a shared table. One of the most interesting moments of the Synod is also one of the simplest: each President reports briefly on the situation of his Congregation. In only a few minutes, one travels around the Benedictine world. The realities could hardly be more different. Perhaps precisely here the meaning of inter pares becomes most tangible. There is no single Benedictine reality and therefore no single solution applicable everywhere. Listening to one another does not eliminate our differences. It helps us to understand them — and sometimes to discover that behind very different circumstances lie surprisingly similar questions. Africa and AI: Two questions for the future Two particular subjects completed this year’s discussions: monasticism in Africa and Artificial Intelligence and monastic life. Abbot Olivier Sarr of Keur Moussa in Senegal presented the reality of Benedictine life in Africa. The vitality and growth experienced in many African communities also bring important responsibilities. Particularly significant are the questions of formation and leadership. Fr Patrick Carter introduced a very different but equally contemporary subject: Artificial Intelligence. The discussion quickly showed that the question cannot simply be whether monks should or should not use AI. The challenge is broader. AI belongs to a technological environment that includes the internet, social media and forms of digital communication that are already changing how we work, communicate, learn — and even how we relate to one another. The essential question is therefore also a human one: how can we use these technologies without marginalizing the humanizing elements of our lives? For monastic life, with its emphasis on presence, community, silence, listening and personal encounter, this question deserves serious reflection. Neither Africa nor Artificial Intelligence was a topic to be “solved” in one session. Both will continue to accompany the discussions of future meetings. Rwanda: More than a meeting place Gihindamuyaga was much more than the geographical location of the Synod. Our days were somehow inserted into the life of the community. A visit to Kibeho and Butare also allowed us to encounter something of the religious and cultural reality of Rwanda. Perhaps that was itself a fitting conclusion to the Synod. The Confederation is ultimately not an organizational chart centred in Rome. It is made up of monasteries: communities in which monks and nuns try, in very different parts of the world, to seek God according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. And perhaps that is what allows the Primas to remain genuinely inter pares. osb.org

From 17 to 20 November 2026, a colloquium entitled “Governing Oneself, Governing Others: Bernard of Clairvaux’s On Consideration” will be held at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo in Rome. The colloquium will explore St Bernard’s De consideratione, addressed to Pope Eugene III, and its reflections on authority, self-knowledge, service, and governance in the Church. The conferences will also be available online. The connection link will be provided later by Sant’Anselmo. https://www.ocso.org/uploads/general-news/documents/annonce-colloque-26-EN.pdf https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sC60IgnoY9pQbdHF4egi3jzEKqVxDfUI/view?pli=1 ocso.org https://www.anselmianum.com/it/26-facolta/facolta-di-teologia/1789-convegno-governo-di-se-governo-degli-altri-il-trattato-di-bernardo-di-chiaravalle-sulla-considerazione

September 2026 Anna Brennan, OSB, Abbess, Stanbrook Abbey, UK Every meeting of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum is, of course, important, but this year’s meeting, at Sant’Anselmo in September, was especially significant, for three reasons: 1) the conference of delegates voted to seek the approval of the Holy See to restructure CIB and to accept the new statutes which give form the restructuring; 2) the conference voted for a new moderator, assistant moderator and council of the CIB; and 3) finally, after a lapse of eight years due to the restrictions of Covid, it was possible to hold, once again, a symposium. The vote of the conference of delegates to accept the new statutes and restructuring of CIB marked a wonderful end of eight years of hard work reflecting on, praying about, discussing the future of the CIB. After hearing the views of delegates, initially through two global Zooms (necessary because Covid prevented travel and in-person meetings), followed by full meetings of the delegates (with some hybrid attendance of delegates by Zoom) in Rome, Cullman, Alabama, USA, Assisi and Montserrat, Benedictine women from across the world truly understood and agreed to the new statutes and the restructuring which would better represent sisters in the many communities, federations, congregations in CIB. Profound thanks have to go to the juridic commission Sr Lynn had set up under the brilliant leadership of Sr Scholastika Haring. The commission, having made proposals, truly responded to the delegates’ views, comments and suggestions. Synodality at its best! The two key elements of the restructuring are: that the CIB itself become independent of the Confederation and equal to it, so that there be one Benedictine “Order”, with two “lungs”, as St John Paul II might have said; and that the conference of delegates now be formed of presidents and representatives according to congregations and federations, rather than by regions. This will give better worldwide representation of Benedictine women on the CIB. The second significance of this conference was that as Sr Lynn McKenzie, the moderator, had come to the end of her (second) four-year term, there needed to be elections for a new moderator, assistant moderator and members of council. It was no surprise to anyone that Lynn was re-elected unanimously for a third term. Who else could carry these important projects forward? Sr Franziska Lukas, Dinklage Abbey, was re-elected assistant moderator, and the new councillors are now Sr Asha Thayyil, congregational leader of the Sisters of Lioba, India; Sr Simone Lee, a Tutzing sister based in Namibia; M. Alexandra Martinez Pabόn of Spain; and Irmã Escolástica Mattos of Brazil. Finally, the symposium: the statutes, old and new, state that the CIB should, every four years, “run an international symposium of Benedictine women from around the world, to foster and signify communion of spirit among those who follow the Rule of Benedict”. As said earlier, it was not possible to run a symposium in 2022, so the symposium this year was the first in eight years. Sr Catherine McCahill, congregational leader of the Good Samaritan Sisters, gave the first keynote speech, The Benedictine Response to the World Situation. The next day, Rob Riemen, married layman, philosopher and founder of the Nexus Institute, gave A Global View of the World Situation. Over two enlightening days we heard two people with different backgrounds and training respond to the terrible and frightening state of our world today. We had a lot to take in, which we must share with our communities. The tone of Rob Riemen’s talk was set by his opening words, “Veni, Creator Spiritus”. Indeed, this ancient hymn also provided his answer. He led us, through historical and philosophical analysis, to understand better today’s world. He left us with the memorable phrase - “the solidarity of the shaken”, which signifies those who are conscious that human beings need the power of love and faith to incarnate the Creator Spiritus. Sr Catherine, in her deep, comprehensive talk, stated at the very beginning that, as Benedictines, our prime response must be to follow the Gospel, that “all is grace”. She went on to show how living according to Benedict’s Rule is our response, from which many can learn. So, although the talks were quite different, both speakers came to a similar conclusion: living according to the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict saves our world. Or as someone said decades ago, “God rules the world through our souls. Just as your own soul is, so will be the fate of the world”. Fr Cyprian Consiglio, the Camaldolese monk now heading monastic interreligious dialogue (DIM-MID), gave a talk enlivened by his moving singing and expert guitar-playing. Expounding the teaching of Raimon Panikkar, Blessed Simplicity: the Monk as the Universal Archetype, among others, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist, we were once again drawn to see that monasticism unites all faiths as its spirit lies at the heart of authentic human living, and that recovering this spirit will save humankind. Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder gave an illustrated talk to the symposium on his work as Primate and on the jubilee year of 2029. He strongly supports CIB going forward with all aspects of its restructuring, including its separation from the Confederation. One short but important element of the meeting was the exhortation of the Catalogus team for all communities to submit the information needed for the new Catalogus of Benedictine Women. The CIB and Confederation alike, others too, need an up-to-date Catalogus soon. One morning, we had an audience with Pope Leo. The meeting was short, but the Pope’s words were encouraging. He thanked us for the offering of our lives and stressed the “spiritual synodality” of all Benedictines, in which each person’s uniqueness becomes a “treasure for all”. Referring to the Rule, where a Benedictine’s heart is expanded by the unspeakable sweetness of love, Pope Leo spoke of how being deeply rooted in Christ, Benedictine communities bear abundant Gospel fruit. On another day, many conference participants spent an enjoyable time at Subiaco, where they prayed in the Sacro Speco and were then welcomed for lunch at the monastery of St Scholastica, after which they were given a tour of the ancient monastery. Special thanks must go to the liturgy team who prepared booklets for the Eucharist and Office in the key languages of the participants. This involved an immense amount of work. One thing was noticeable: while, inevitably, the volume of sound dropped occasionally when some members of the assembly did not know the language of the service, it increased exponentially at the end of each Office. We could all sing together Benedicamus Domino, Deo Gratias, to the Easter tone. How fitting that the Resurrection unites us, members from across the globe, in joy and praise! The Tech Team and the group of translators also deserve special thanks for their hard work, patience and commitment. Special mention must be made of the presentations given on the last afternoon of the symposium. Sisters from Ukraine, Poland and the Holy Land described the daily reality of living in lands torn by war and conflict. What most of us learn about through TV and the media - the loss of life and carnage, daily fear, destruction, grief, despair – is not “virtual” for these sisters. We could see, even feel, their courage, the practical compassion of their Gospel living, their fidelity to prayer and praise, and how victims (among whom they could count themselves) find God through prayer and praise, the Gospel. There were tears in the eyes of many, including in those of the translators, who, we could hear, were at times finding it difficult to continue translating. The final event of the two-week meeting was a Zoom with the Abbot Primate and the Synod of Abbots President, who were having their annual meeting in Rwanda – a good moment of collaboration between the Communio and the Confederation. The CIB meeting 2026 was truly joyful. We left greatly encouraged, promising Sr Lynn and her council, and all the initiatives they undertake, the support of our prayer. osb.org https://www.benedictines-cib.org/

We inform you of a new scam attempt of fake mails. This is obviously a scam. Please be careful. Below we present the emails that some Superiors have received: De: Sr. Isabelle Thouin OSB Enviat: dilluns, 14 de setembre de 2026 16:27 Per a:- -------- Tema: Re: Monasterio de Poblet Estimado padre: Buenos días, Soy la hermana Isabelle Thouin, OSB, madre abadesa de la Abadía de Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes, en Canadá. Para obtener más información sobre nuestro priorato, le invitamos a visitar nuestra página web: Abbaye Sainte-Marie des Deux-Montagnes Estimado padre, tenemos aquí un pequeño problema y me gustaría explicárselo. Quizás pueda ayudarnos a encontrar una solución. Nuestra abadía está ayudando a una familia de la República Democrática del Congo. Se trata de una viuda y ocho huérfanos. La madre padece cáncer de mama en una fase muy avanzada, con riesgo de metástasis. Necesita someterse a una mastectomía lo antes posible, así como a quimioterapia y radioterapia. Hemos intentado enviarles el dinero que necesitan para su tratamiento médico, pero la nueva ley de finanzas ha complicado mucho las transacciones financieras entre Canadá y ciertos países africanos, incluida la RDC. Estimado padre, ¿podría facilitarnos una cuenta a la que podamos ingresar la cantidad destinada a la atención médica de esta señora y, desde allí, ayudarnos a enviarla a la familia en la República Democrática del Congo mediante transferencia bancaria, Western Union o MoneyGram? Disponemos de los datos bancarios para enviar el dinero directamente a la familia, así como de los datos para enviarlo a la familia en la República Democrática del Congo y de la factura del hospital que justifica la transferencia a dicho país. La cantidad que hay que enviar a la RDC para la familia es de 25 000 USD, y esta suma está destinada a ayudar a la familia a pagar la atención médica de la señora enferma, a resolver su situación de vivienda —ya que tienen un problema de alojamiento— y también a poner en marcha una pequeña actividad generadora de ingresos para su autosuficiencia. Pero conviene explicar la relación entre nuestra comunidad y esta familia. Uno de los amigos de nuestra comunidad trabajaba en la RDC. Falleció en Canadá hace dos meses. Antes de morir, cuando se dio cuenta de que no le quedaban muchos días de vida, nos habló de esta familia y nos dejó dinero para que pudiéramos seguir ayudándolas. Y es con amor y devoción que seguimos ayudando a estas mujeres, por respeto a los últimos deseos de nuestro difunto amigo. Me gustaría señalar que el padre de esta familia congoleña era el chófer de nuestro difunto amigo, y que este padre congoleño falleció en un accidente de tráfico mientras trabajaba. Fue en reconocimiento a los servicios prestados por su chófer por lo que nuestro amigo se comprometió a seguir ayudando a esta familia. Había hablado de este problema con el obispo de nuestra diócesis para preguntarle si podría ayudarnos a enviar la cantidad a la República Democrática del Congo a través de los canales de la Iglesia, pero seguía habiendo un problema: la familia tenía que facilitar el nombre de la diócesis en la que se encontraban y el de la parroquia, para que la ayuda pudiera canalizarse mejor a través de las estructuras de la Iglesia. Pero tras pedirle esta información a la familia, me di cuenta de que eran cristianos (protestantes), pero no católicos, por lo que no sabían cómo ponerse en contacto con un párroco o con el obispo de su diócesis, y creo que ya he explicado la relación entre nuestro priorato y esta familia. Dado que teníamos dificultades para enviar dinero desde aquí a la República Democrática del Congo, la solución más sencilla es encontrar a una persona de confianza que acepte que le transfiramos la suma destinada a esta familia a su cuenta y que, desde allí, envíe el importe a la familia mediante transferencia bancaria. Disponemos de los datos bancarios para enviar el dinero directamente a la familia y de la factura del hospital que justifica la transferencia de dinero a la República Democrática del Congo. Si es necesario, puedo enviarle una solicitud oficial con el membrete y el sello de nuestra abadía. Querido padre, la caridad no tiene precio, ni religión, ni raza. Todos los pobres son iguales. Si es posible, en nombre del Dios al que servimos, ayúdanos a enviar el dinero a esta pobre viuda y a sus huérfanos. Le pedimos al Señor que te ayude a discernir mejor lo que puedes hacer. Le pedimos disculpas si esta petición le molesta, y le agradecemos de antemano cualquier gesto de amor y caridad que realice, en la unidad de la oración, para ayudar a esta viuda y a sus huérfanos. Paz y bendiciones Hna. Isabelle Thouin OSB Madre Abadesa Ne pas répondre à ce type de message ! ocist.org

At the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Fidélité in Jouques (France), Mother Abbess Marie-Monique Guttin has stepped down from her post having reached the age limit of 75. On 15 September 2026, the conventual chapter elected Mother Marie-Noël Pelletier as the community’s new abbess. She will receive the abbatial blessing from Monsignor Christian Delarbre, Archbishop of Aix-en-Provence and Arles, on Thursday 22 October 2026 at 10.00 am, on the feast day of Saint John Paul II. https://www.abbayedejouques.org/

On 29 August 2026, Sister Marie-Lys made her perpetual profession with the Benedictine Servants of the Poor, whose mother house is in Angers (France). The celebration was presided over by Dom Bertrand de Hédouville, abbot of Randol Monastery. The Congregation of the Servants of the Poor, Regular Oblates of the Order of Saint Benedict, is a religious institute dedicated to the apostolic life. It was founded by Dom Leduc, a monk of Solesmes, in 1872. Under the patronage of Saint Françoise Romaine, they serve the poor, primarily by providing home care for the sick. The Benedictine Servants of the Poor are present in France, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Senegal. https://servantesdespauvres-osb.org/voeux-perpetuels-de-sr-marie-lys/

On September 12, 2026, under the presidency of the Abbot General, Mother Pilar Avellaneda Ruiz, a nun of the Abbey of La Encarnación in Córdoba and Promotrix of the General Chapter of the Cistercian Congregation of St. Bernard (CCSB), was elected Abbess President of the Congregation. She succeeds Mother Angelines de Frutos Benito as Abbess President. She has served as Abbess President since 2013. The Brothers and Sisters of the Order wish God’s blessing upon the new Abbess President and thank Mother Angelines for all her years of fruitful collaboration. ocso.org