Eucharist (Main Chapel)

Breakfast

Departure to the Vatican.

Audience with the Pope       

         

Lunch
           

Report from the Thematic Group B: Association.

Break

Report from the Young Brothers

Prayer by linguistic groups
           

Italian dinner al fresco

AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE

The Capitulants are leaving the Generalate for an audience with the Pope.  Brother Siperior will have the opportunity to greet the Pope personally on behalf of the Capitulants.  This audience is a tradition from previous Chapters after the election of the Superior General.

A LONG DAY OF BALLOTING. 

The election of the Vicar General, Brother Thomas Johnson was an easy choice.  The Assembly clearly knew who they wanted as Vicar.  After the election of the Vicar General, the Assembly proceeded to the election of the Regional General Councilors.  This concept is a new development of this Chapter with a view to animating the different Regions of the world more closely.  Previous meetings prior to this election were instrumental in helping to clarify the possible options. 

Each of the Capitulants with the right to vote, deposited color coded ballots with their nominations for each of the Lasallian Regions.  Due to the fact that the ballot counting was done publicly, by the four scrutineers, the process was lengthened.    

In order to save time, after each ballot was counted, Brother Alvaro descended from the podium to pose the question to each of the candidates with a majority of votes: “Brother ________, will you accept the responsibility of Regional Councilor?” Each acceptance was followed by enthusiastic applause.  These were very emotional moments in the Assembly Hall.

Each of the Regional Councilors was elected in the first ballot.  Only Brother Gabriell Somme of Burkina-Faso, who was elected as Regional Councilor for Africa (RELA), was absent.  He was not a Capitulant nor was he in Rome.  This is similar to the way in which Brother Miguel Campos was elected in 2000.

The Lord was repeatedly invoked so that he might make Himself present….and that He might enlighten those to whom He had entrusted Animation and Government.

THE INTERNATIONAL MAKE-UP OF THE NEW COUNCIL

After the midday break the Capitulants continued with their voting in order to complete the new General Council with the election of the three remaining Councilors. Br.Alvaro us of the tasks or mission of the General Councilors and contributed  a summery of what might be the distribution of their functions.

The voting system adopted and the need to obtain the majority required meant that there was more than one vote in a process which lasted almost three hours.

The international nature of the Institute was reflected in the nations of origin and regions of those who make up the new General Council. Including the Br.Superior it is as follows: Brasil(1), Burkina (1) Costa Rica(1) Spain (1), France (2), Japan (1), New Zealand (1), and USA (2)