In a day filled with circumstance and tradition, Br. José Rodríguez Carballo, OFM, was elected by the General Chapter to serve a second six-year term as the Order’s General Minister.
The day began early with a Mass presided over by His Excellency Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, Special Envoy of Pope Benedict XVI to the General Chapter. The Cardinal was the Pontifical Delegate sent to oversee the election of the General Minister. The Mass was celebrated in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
THE DAY BEGAN WITH MASS IN THE BASILICA
In his homily, the Cardinal said, “We are in a particularly significant place in the life of St. Francis. It is the place of his discovery of the Gospel and of the mission, it is the place of the fraternal meeting in the Chapter of Pentecost, it is the place of pardon experienced as the gate of Paradise, it is the place of the holy passing of the Poverello, where he brought his consecration to a conclusion by consigning himself totally into the arms of the heavenly Father, led by the hand by ‘sister corporal death’. May this place, on this occasion, be for each one of you also a place of an ever renewing discovery of the Gospel and mission.”
CARDINAL JOSE SARAIVA MARTINS
With great excitement permeating the brothers, Mass was followed by a quick breakfast and then the Chapter delegates re-convened in the aula of Domus Pacis to begin the process of electing the General Minister.
Br. Francesco Patton, OFM, Secretary of the Chapter, offered a formal greeting to Cardinal Martins. “Your presence in our midst is a reason for encouragement and a sign of the goodwill of the Holy Father towards us Friars Minor. From our very origins the Seraphic Father asked the Church of Rome, which he loved to call ‘our Mother’, to give us a Cardinal to accompany the journey of the Order, as a sign of how firmly our Fraternity is rooted in the Church.”
THE CARDINAL AND THE CHAPTER SECRETARY CONSULT BEFORE THE ELECTION
Again, Cardinal Martins addressed the Chapter delegates, “My presence here today is a sign of a benevolence, of a trust and of a blessing which continue in time and which the Lord Pope – as Francis loved to call him – wishes to show you so that you may continue to live according to the form of the Holy Gospel and that you may continue to call the men and women of our times ‘to penance’, to conversion, to accept Jesus Christ as the only Saviour and to place Him at the centre of life.
FRANCESCO PATTON, OFM, SECRETARY OF THE CHAPTER WELCOMES THE CARDINAL
Following the singing of Veni Creator Spiritus, calling upon the Holy Spirit to be with the delegates as they selected the next successor of St. Francis, the Chapter again went into closed session for the election. More than an hour later, the delegates exited the aula proclaiming that they had re-elected Br. José to a second six-year term. Of the 152 votes available, Br. José received 110 votes.
THE PROCESSION TO THE BASILICA BEGINS
By the time of their emergence, many other friars, sisters and others from the area had gathered to hear the news and to celebrate with the Order. Emerging from the Domus Pacis, the friars were led in procession to the Portiuncula singing the Te Deum where they formed two rows to the doors of the Portiuncula. The General Minister and Pontifical Delegate walked through the midst of the rows of friars entering the small Chapel that is the heart of the Order.
FRIARS GATHER OUTSIDE THE PORTIUNCULA
Stepping behind the altar, Br. José made the Profession of Faith and then Cardinal Martins witnessed the profession and then gave Br. José the Seal of the Order. Then, our newly re-elected General Minister stepped in front of the altar to receive each of the friars gathered, to accept their congratulations and offer a sign of peace.
The service was concluded as Br. José gave the Blessing of St. Francis to all gathered and all sang Ave Regina Coelorum. All of the Chapter delegates enjoyed a very festive lunch in the refectory of the Protoconvento at Santa Maria deglie Angeli.
THE GENERAL MINISTER BLESSES THE FRIARS
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