Br. Roberto Genuin re-elected General Minister of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor
The 86th General Chapter of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor opened on 25 August at the International College of St Lawrence of Brindisi, Rome.
The General Chapter was attended by 173 capitulars, representing Capuchin brothers working in over 100 countries around the world.
According to the programme, on September 3, 2024, all the capitular brothers met to elect the General Minister and Br. Roberto Genuin was elected on the first ballot, for a second term, as General Minister of the Order of Capuchin Friars Minor.
Br. Roberto Genuin, born on 20 September 1961 in Falcade (Belluno), is a Capuchin Brother with a long career in religious and academic life. He entered the seminary at the age of eleven and completed his theological studies by obtaining a Baccalaureate 'Summa cum laude' and a Doctorate in 'Utroque Iure' at the Pontifical Lateran University. Ordained priest in 1987, he has held various leadership roles, including Director of the Seraphic Seminary, Guardian in Venice, Vicar Provincial, and Minister Provincial. He collaborated in the revision of the Constitutions of the Capuchin Friars Minor and, in 2018, was elected Minister General of the Order for his first term.
On 5 September, the following 10 General Councillors were elected:
- Br. Lawrence Soosai Nathan (India)
- Br. Marek Miszczyński (Poland)
- Br. Patrice Afonso Fernando (Angola)
- Br. Harold Arlés Pérez Hernández (Colombia)
- Br. William Chang (Indonesia)
- Br. Robert Williams (USA)
- Br. Maurizio Placentino (Italy)
- Br. Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira (Brazil)
- Br. Leon Budău (Romania)
- Br. Gebrewold Gebretsadik Dage (Ethiopia)
In accordance with the Constitutions, the Capitulars, on 6 September, were called to elect the Vicar General of the Order, choosing from among the General Councillors already elected, and appointed the Brazilian Br. Silvio do Socorro de Almeida Pereira, born in 1973, a religious since 1999 and a priest since 2005.
