Meeting of the Leadership of the European Area in Rome in January 2026

The annual meeting of the priors provincial, commissaries general, delegates general and the regional presidents from the European Area took place in Rome over two days in January 2026. In addition, Joshy George Pottackal – the regional superior of the Carmelites from the St Thomas Province (India) who ministry in Germany – also attended. Joshy will be ordained auxiliary bishop of Mainz in a few months’ time and those present expressed their prayers and congratulations to him.

On the first day, Desiderio García Martínez, O. Carm., prior general, presided at the Eucharist in Traspontina and Gian Domenico Meloni, prior provincial of the Italian Province, presided at the Eucharist on the second day.

The meeting began with a short presentation of the history of Traspontina and of the envisaged project for Traspontina. After sharing with each other the current situation of each reality in Europe, the participants reflected on the recent General Chapter (2025) that was held in Malang, Indonesia last September. In particular, time was spent reflecting on the Final Message of the General Chapter and how it was being implemented in each reality. Much of the meeting was spent in proposing the key objectives for the European Area to be working on over the next six years. Finally, it was agreed that next year’s meeting would be in Salamanca in January 2026.

Most of the participants stayed in Saint Albert’s International College (CISA). The meeting itself was held in the residence of the nearby Carmelite community of Santa Maria in Traspontina. The participants were extremely grateful for the great hospitality and welcome offered by both of these Carmelite communities and by their priors, Tadeusz Popiela (CISA) and Giuseppe Midili (Traspontina).