Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
Who We AreHistory of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.
The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate (in Latin Congregatio Fratrum Franciscanorum Immaculatae) is a male religious institute of pontifical right: (initials F.I.).
The Institute was born in 1990 from a primitive foundational community of some 30 Conventual Friars Minor who had developed in Irpinia a predominantly contemplative form of life inaugurated in 1970 by two religious.
The progressive presence of vocations reorganized the way of life and also promoted the active dimension of the apostolate by orienting it especially toward the media with the press, radio and television.
The model was that of the City of the Immaculate of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, who in those very years was being elevated to the honors of the altars.
The specific characteristics of the fraternity, with its own formation, determined the original character that was canonically recognized by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Benevento who erected the friars of the Marian House of Frigento (AV) to an institute of diocesan right.
The fourth vow called the “Marian Vow” makes Franciscans of the Immaculate missionaries in a specific sense. The spread across continents, coupled with a growth in numbers and works, resulted in the canonical elevation to pontifical right on January 1, 1998.
At the beginning of the second half of the 2000s, the Institute went through and overcame, thanks to the maternal action of the Church, the crisis typical of these years that saw the dissension of restorationists and traditionalists opposed to the reform and missionary thrust desired by Pope Francis.
This has allowed a deepening of the charism in a direction more authentic to the Kolbian novelty.
Fidelity to the Magisterium was rewarded with the recognition of a new government and a consolidated communion with the See of Peter according to the most genuine San Franciscan tradition.
Government of the Friars
Minister General
P. Immacolato M. Acquali
Vicar and Procurator General
P. Massimiliano M. Zangheratti
Secretary General
P. John Francesco M. Lim
General Counselor
P. Alfonso M. Bruno
General Delegates
General Delegate for Europe
P. Rosario M. Sammarco
General Delegate for the USA
P. Ignatius M. Manfredonia
General Delegate for the Philippines
P. Januarius M. Tindoy
General Delegate for Africa
P. Gabriel M. Udogu
