Letter of the General Minister

Br Roberto Genuin OFM Cap

Response to the Corona Virus

Prot. N. 00178/20

Rome, March 17, 2020

To all the Major Superiors
To all the Friars at their locations

Dear Brothers,

May the Lord give you peace!

It is my wish to address everyone as a show of my unity and support, and on the part of the whole General Council now meeting in Rome, as well as the entire fraternity of the General Curia, during these exceptional days as we witness the spread of the new virus throughout the entire world.

Here at the General Curia, we are all well so far, and are missing only a few from our fraternity who are currently stuck in various parts of the world. According to the information we’re getting, some fraternities – especially in northern Italy, but not only there – have already been affected by the spread of the virus and some of the brothers are hospitalized, even a few in serious condition. Let us all join our hearts in fraternal unity and support for one another with fervent prayer.

Of course, paying close attention to the measures that public authorities are steadily taking to limit the spread of contagion, and in order to protect the health of the friars and the people of God, we too must act accordingly. Therefore, it is necessary for me to require that all the Chapters convened until the end of May 2020 be suspended and postponed until their new dates are determined.

As the situation evolves, we will see if further provisions might become necessary.

As a precaution, all the business meetings convened over the span of these months in the respective circumscriptions must also be cancelled. I therefore call upon all Provincial Ministers and Custodes to inform the friars of their circumscriptions of these decisions. We must take the opportunity during this time of uncommon trial to invoke to Lord of life and history with even greater strength.

Let us plead with him for those who are infected and for those who take care of them; and let us ask him at this moment to sustain faith and hope within each of us and within our fraternities.

I am committed to being in touch with you soon, and I send you my warmest fraternal regards.

Br. Roberto Genuin
General Minister OFMCap.
and the General Council