During these April days, the Franciscan community in Argentina is experiencing a special time of gathering and reflection. Brother Massimo Fusarelli, who guides the Order of Friars Minor worldwide, has come to the province of Córdoba to share with brothers and sisters who dedicate their lives to service through the charism of Saint Francis of Assisi.
His visit, which runs from April 15 to 18, has a deeply fraternal character. This isn't simply a schedule of activities, but rather a space to listen to one another, walk together, and rekindle that fire that drives religious life. As the letter to the Hebrews reminds us: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV).
A Bridge Between Rome and Latin America
Massimo Fusarelli, a priest since 1989 and Minister General since 2021, has made his service a constant pilgrimage through the continents where the Franciscan family is present. His return to Argentina—following a visit in 2023—completes a significant journey through our region before returning to Rome.
At the Franciscan Residence of San Antonio de Arredondo, religious men and women from various locations are gathering: from Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Córdoba, to Mendoza, and Argentina's Northeast and Northwest regions. Brothers from Paraguay and the Poor Clares of the Southern Cone are also arriving, weaving a network of communion that transcends borders.
This gathering speaks to us of a Church that seeks to be more synodal, more attentive to listening to the Spirit in the diversity of voices. As the apostle Paul wrote: "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12, NIV).
A Program with Spiritual Depth
The days are designed to combine celebration with reflection:
- Following the initial welcome, there will be presentations about the province and spaces for dialogue in assembly.
- Eucharistic celebrations will be central moments of encounter with God and among brothers.
- Thursday the 16th will include presentations by the minister general and the general definitor, Brother César Külkamp, along with group work.
- A special moment will be the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the passing of Saint Francis of Assisi, an occasion to renew commitment to his legacy of poverty, peace, and care for creation.
- Friday the 17th will feature a meeting with those in formation and their formators, looking toward the future of consecrated life.
- The activities will culminate on Saturday the 18th with a meeting of the definitory.
All this will unfold, according to the organizers, within a framework that is "austere in protocol but rich in presence." That is, what matters isn't external pomp, but the quality of human and spiritual encounter.
The Themes That Beat in the Franciscan Heart
During his previous visit, Fusarelli participated in an open dialogue in Salta about horizons for religious life. Topics such as the need for changes in structures and mentalities, the culture of care, and abuse prevention were on the table. It's likely these concerns remain present, now within the context of a specific province.
Religious life today faces particular challenges: declining vocations in some places, generational renewal, dialogue with a rapidly changing world. In response to this, the Franciscan charism offers a perennial compass: evangelical simplicity, universal fraternity, and preferential love for the poorest.
Jesus himself gave us the model when he said: "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
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