The election of Pope Leo XIV has stirred pride and hope across the Catholic world, his first message from the Loggia — peace — echoing the Benedictine call to peacemaking. His Peruvian roots and connection to the Benedictine Confederation have deeply moved many, especially in Latin America and at Sant’Anselmo in Rome.
Abbot Primate Jeremias shares short excerpts of Confederation news.
Fr. Ruberval Monteiro da Silva OSB merges theology and sacred art in his roles at Sant’Anselmo. His work exemplifies the integration of monastic life, academic rigor, and artistic expression.
In Burkina Faso, parishes and monasteries face immense challenges due to ongoing violence and displacement. Amid fear and poverty, the Church continues to offer support, prayer and hope.
Italian police are seeking help identifying a reliquary of Saint Boniface that may have been stolen from a Benedictine church. Officials invite Benedictine communities to assist in the investigation.
Most Reverend Doctor Shamindra Jayawardena OSB has been elected as the new Abbot General of the Sylvestro Benedictine Congregation. This historic election on 28 May 2025 marks him as the first Sri Lankan to hold the position and the General Chapter was held outside Italy for the first time.
The Austrian Benedictine Congregation has begun its 400th anniversary celebrations with a pilgrimage to Mariazell Basilica. Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder led the commemorative Mass, emphasising the enduring relevance of Benedictine life as a hopeful response to contemporary challenges.
The Congress of Abbots has approved the admission of Sainte-Marie de la Garde Abbey into the Benedictine Confederation. Founded in 2002 by Abbot Gérard Calvet, the young and growing French community follows the traditional liturgy and monastic life.
At the 2024 Congress of Abbots, Abbot General Bernardus Peeters highlighted the urgent need to renew the Cistercian contemplative identity amid global challenges. Emphasising communion, participation, mission and formation, he called for deeper unity, ecological responsibility and inclusive leadership rooted in Christ.
Timothy Radcliffe OP addressed the Congress of Abbots with a call to monastic hope, stability and truthfulness in a world marked by crisis, distraction and identity confusion. He urged Benedictines to remain as signs of peace and joy, quietly rooted in worship and the enduring mystery of God.
