Rome, September 3, 2024. This morning on the agenda of the General Chapter was the election of the General Minister of the Order. At 9:30 a.m. all the capitular friars gathered in the chapel of the International College for a special liturgy and prayer for the election of the General Minister. A reading that resonated was from the Gospel of Matthew (20:20-28), which describes tasks within the community as service, beginning with the highest roles. Christ himself describes his role as a service, even to the point of putting his own life on the line. This was followed by a reading from the Remembrance of the Desire of the Soul by Thomas in Celano, in which our holy father Francis indicates the qualities that the minister must have (184-186).
After the prayer, the capitulars followed the outgoing General Minister, carrying a lighted lamp in his hand, in procession to the Aula, where, as soon as they arrived, the lamp was placed in front of the Book of Gospels as each took his or her place. All the capitulars sang the Veni Creator Spiritus to invoke the assistance of the Spirit at this important moment in the life of the Order.
Immediately following, the Secretary of the Chapter took a roll call and then the tellers distributed the ballots. After the voting, the tellers counted and examined the ballots. Brother Roberto Genuin was elected on the first ballot, thus entering his second term as Minister General of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor. Brother Roberto accepted the new election. A great and prolonged applause greeted the official proclamation of the result. Then, all the capitulars, one by one, paid their respects to Brother Roberto with a handshake and an embrace, thanking him and wishing him further good service to the Order.
More information to come!
