Between 4 and 22 September, 95 members of the Carmelite Order gathered in Sassone, Rome, for the celebration of the Order’s General Chapter, with the theme In Obsequio Jesu Christi: Praying and Prophetic Community in a Changing World focused on responding to the questions and challenges that the world in constant change poses for the Carmelite Order.

The General Chapter elected the new leadership for the Order. Fr Fernando Millán, was elected Prior General, while Fr Christian Körner was chosen Vice Prior General. Fr Josef Janèáø and Fr Kevin Alban were elected Procurator General and Bursar General respectively. Friars John Keating, Raul Maravi, Desiré Unem, and Albertus Herwanto were elected as General Counsellors for the European, American, African and Asian-Australian regions. Pope Benedict XVI sent a letter to the outgoing Prior General Fr Joseph Chalmers on the occasion of the Chapter.

The General Chapter celebrated the 800th anniversary of the reception of the Carmelite Rule. For this celebration, which took place in the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, Rome, members from the various branches of the Order took part.

The Carmelite Order dates from the late 12th century with a group of hermits living on Mount Carmel “near the font of Elijah.” Today members live in 42 countries and number approximately 2,000 priests and brothers divided into 23 Provinces, over 800 cloistered nuns in 78 monasteries, and thousands of lay Carmelites.