Fr. Miljenko Šteko, OFM elected as the President of the Union of Friars Minor of Europe

date: 31.10.2019.

The XIV General Assembly of UFME - Unio Fratrum Minorum Europae was held in Palermo from October 14-19 and the entire programme was held in three official languages, Italian, Spanish and English. Topic was “Secularisation nowadays in Europe” and many acknowledged speakers from famous universities gave their insight into this, as well as Archbishop of Palermo, Msgr. Corrado Lorefice.

During the election part, Fr. Miljenko Šteko, OFM, the Provincial of Herzegovina Franciscan Province was elected as the President, Vice President is Fr.Claudio Durighetto (Italy). Along with them, the members of the Permanent Council of UFME are Provincials Fr. Michel Laloux (France), Fr. Juan María Martínez de Ilarduya (Spain) and Fr. Bernard Marciniak (Poland). The Secretary General is Fr. Miguel de la Mata (Spain).

The Franciscan Provincials of all European countries, along with the General Definitors from Europe, where more than 6000 Franciscans serve, meet every two years in some of the European cities to exchange their experiences and to determine guidelines for their future work in accordance to their charisma. This Franciscan Union is seated in Brussels, the centre of European Union institutions.