Followers of St. Francis

By Pat McCloskey, OFM

Friend of the Poor Elected Minister General

On July 13, Massimo Fusarelli was elected minister general of the Order of Friars Minor. The 118 voters in the United States and president of the English-Speaking Conference (ESC), says: “Although I had never met Massimo celebrated the order’s general chapter at the Capuchin San prior to the general chapter, my interactions with him durLorenzo da Brindisi International College outside Rome. ing the chapter have given me a favorable impression of Brother Massimo had led Rome’s St. him. I look forward to working with him Bonaventure Province since July 2020. and the others who have been elected to

Brother Massimo, born in Rome in our general government as we continue 1963, professed his final vows in 1989 to put the priorities of the order into and was ordained a priest later that practice.” The ESC currently includes year. Before being elected as minister of seven US provinces, one each in Canada, his province, he had animated the friar Ireland, Lithuania, and Malta, plus community at San Francesco a Ripa in one custody each in Great Britain and Trastevere (Rome) and led its parishioners the United States. and others in ministering to immigrants, Brother Mark Soehner, minister of St. those with addictions, and other mar- John the Baptist Province and ESC vice ginalized people. For three years Brother president, describes the new minister genMassimo had helped friars in six north- eral as “warm, confident, and clear about ern Italian OFM provinces to become St. his mandate from the general chapter to Anthony Province in 2016. Brother Massimo Fusarelli continue to revitalize the order.” He espe-

Brother Massimo became the 121st cially supported the creation in 2023 of a successor of St. Francis to lead the Order of Friars Minor. new US province from six of the seven existing ones. He follows Brother Michael Perry (Sacred Heart Province, United States), who served as minister general since 2013. In his homily at the general chapter’s final Mass, Brother Massimo said that we thank the Lord on our faith journey “God touched Francis’ heart through the mercy offered to a brother, and because “he puts so many people in our path, especially he continues to touch our hearts through those who are most despised and lonely, the small and the the encounter with others, especially poor, those impoverished by life, the discarded. In their the most needy.” school, he makes us once again attentive to the Gospel and —Pope Francis its power already at work in us.”

Brother Isauro Covili Linfati from Chile was elected vicar WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ASKING OF US general on July 14, followed the next day by the election of Every general chapter has the right to indicate priorities for general councilors from Bissau, Brazil, Colombia, Guinea, all the friars until the next general chapter. The 2021 chapItaly, Malaysia, Malta, Poland, and Switzerland. ter’s final document identifies what the Holy Spirit is inviting

Brother Tom Nairn, minister of Sacred Heart Province the friars to offer the Church and society at large. They should clearly show the order’s “two lungs” (fraternity and being lesser brothers to all) while offering more assistance to their refugee sisters and brothers. The friars should use the encyclicals “Laudato Si’” and “Fratelli Tutti” as guides for animating their renewal in the next six years. They should cooperate fully with Church and civil authorities to safeguard minors and vulnerable adults. The friars should be “missionary disciples,” open to being evangelized by the people to whom they are sent. They must always recognize that the “cry of the earth” and the “cry of the poor” are closely connected.

In a telegram to Brother Massimo Fusarelli (right), Pope Francis congratulated the new minister general and wrote, “May the seraphic father, St. Francis, be an encouragement for you in leading your brothers.”

Article 10 of the document points to the order’s founder as a source of direction: “The people of God demand more from us by virtue of our public commitment to be lesser brothers after the example of St. Francis.” The document expresses that Franciscans must be ready to make changes within their friaries and provinces, including internal governance changes to fulfill their mission more effectively. Franciscans need to renew their approach to initial and ongoing (lifelong) formation and to embrace the future energetically rather than simply keep reviewing the past. In article 41, the document states, “In an age distinguished by increasing sectarianism, violence, and division, the friars need to provide a prophetic witness of universal fraternity to a world in need of such a model.”

TOUCHING HEARTS THROUGH MERCY

In his Zoom message to chapter members on July 17, Pope Francis referenced St. Francis’ embrace of a man suffering from leprosy and added: “This encounter with the least and the suffering, in the name of mercy, is the very root of your spirituality. God touched Francis’ heart through the mercy offered to a brother, and he continues to touch our hearts through the encounter with others, especially with the most needy.”

Pope Francis encouraged the friars to live out the general chapter’s theme: “Arise, and Christ will give you light” (Eph 5:14).

A Very Rich Background

Father Massimo: • speaks Italian, German, French, Spanish, and English,

• holds a licentiate and doctorate in patristics (Church Fathers) and has taught in that field,

• served in the national vocations center of the Italian bishops’ conference, and was provincial and national moderator of ongoing formation for the friars,

• between 2003 and 2009 was the order’s general secretary for formation and studies, and

• served as formator of young friars in the Roman province and as a member of its provincial council.

Brother Massimo stands near a wooden sign with St. Francis’ Prayer before the Crucifix etched on it in Italian. In the prayer, Francis asks God for “right faith, sure hope, and perfect charity.”

ST. ANTHONY BREAD

The National Shrine of St. Anthony is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Consecrated in 1889, it includes a first-class relic of St. Anthony and serves as a center for daily prayer and contemplation.

The Franciscan friars minister from the shrine. To help them in their work among the poor, you may send a monetary offering called St. Anthony Bread. Make checks or money orders payable to “Franciscans” and mail to the address below.

Every Tuesday, a Mass is offered for benefactors and petitioners at the shrine. To seek St. Anthony’s intercession, mail your petition to the address below. Petitions are taken to the shrine each week.

viSit our webSite to:

StAnthony.org

mAil poStAl communicAtionS to: St. Anthony Bread 1615 Vine St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498