At the first light of dawn, when the veil of night still brushes the ancient stones of the Holy City, the voice of the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco IELPO, rose with intensity. In a deeply heartfelt homily delivered on the solemnity of Our Lady of the Angels, he wove spirituality and current events with moving clarity.
At 7:00 a.m., in the heart of the liturgical celebration — concelebrated and broadcast live by the Christian Media Center — the Word met life, memory became present, and grace illuminated the path of discernment.
Fr. Francesco welcomed, with wonder and gratitude, the meaningful coincidence between this luminous Franciscan memory and the conclusion of the 2025 Custodial Chapter. Not a random event, he emphasized, but a sign, a gentle whisper of God to be read with eyes of faith and a vigilant heart. An invitation to perceive in the harmony of dates the tender touch of Providence, which accompanies, encourages, and consoles our vocation as Friars Minor in the Holy Land, the land of the Word made flesh.
The homily unfolded around three words — three stars shining in the firmament of this solemnity: forgiveness, presence, and desire.
Forgiveness, as an inexhaustible spring flowing from the Porziuncola, where the heart of the Poverello opened to boundless mercy. “God,” the Custos reminded us, “never tires of forgiving us — it is we who sometimes tire of asking for forgiveness.” In fraternal life, marked by proximity and human limitations, mutual forgiveness is vital nourishment, a healing balm, and a bridge that restores. Therein lies the deepest truth of the Gospel: we are beloved sinners, called to live mercy.
Presence, which never abandons. The assembly recalled, with emotion, Fr. Frédéric Manns' reflection that the announcement “The Lord is with you” in the Old Testament is always tied to a calling. Likewise today, the Custos affirmed: “God does not leave us alone in our mission.” He walks with us, goes before us, supports and sustains us, even in the darkness of trials and the deserts of fatigue.
Desire, finally, as an inner fire. Jesus himself asked St. Francis, after the trial of temptation and the nakedness of soul: “What do you desire for the salvation of souls?” A question that still reaches us today, through time and circumstance, and asks us deeply: What do we truly desire? What is our ultimate longing, the thirst that drives our journey?
At 9:00 a.m., in the final morning session of the Chapter, the assembly reconvened to present and approve the final document, votes, and resolutions, accompanied by a collective reflection on the intense and shared journey of the past days. After the votes, the friars gathered for the traditional group photo, leading to the final message, last deliberations, and evaluation of the Chapter.
In the concluding words of the General Visitor, Fr. Alojzy WAROT, came the invitation to live the new phases of the custodial journey with humility, obedience, and love for the Lord. A blessing and a mandate for the six-year term ahead, at the heart of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which the Church offers as a time of grace.
The Chapter closed with eyes set on the future. The friars, united in communal discernment, recognized these days as a time of growth, dialogue, and confirmation. There is a strong desire to move forward, overcoming the challenges of religious life with courage and hope.
The Custos concluded with a sincere and heartfelt reflection. Every Chapter, he reminded us, is made of two dimensions: a review of the journey taken and discernment for the road ahead. Ours is a pilgrimage of hope: a journey through interior deserts, that ultimately leads to the source that quenches thirst — the cascade of Grace that renews.
With a prayer led by Fr. Rodrigo MACHADO SOARES, Custodial Master of Ceremonies, this time of listening and communion was sealed.
All for the glory of God and our salvation!
