General Chapter 2025

The General Chapter of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) was held in Assisi, Italy, from September 3 to 23, 2025, attended by the abbots and abbesses of the order’s monasteries around the world.

The chapter, held during the Holy Year of Hope, emphasized hope as a guiding principle.  The chapter served as a platform for the superiors to foster a shared vision and discuss issues impacting the order. A central element was the address by Abbot General Dom Bernardus Peeters, titled “The Love of Sharing and the Sharing of Love”.

He framed the chapter as a collective act of offering vulnerability to Christ for renewal. The Abbot General called on the members to embrace the suffering of the world, including the “crises of ecology, refugees, wars and the unequal distribution of money and goods”.  He challenged the Order to truly be the praying heart of the Church.

A highlight was the special blessing from Pope Leo XIV:

ON THE OCCASION OF THE TRIENNIAL GENERAL CHAPTER OF THE ORDER, HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV EXPRESSES HIS WARMEST THOUGHTS, INVOKING THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HOPING THAT THIS IMPORTANT ASSEMBLY WILL INSPIRE RENEWED RESOLVE FOR SANCTITY AND FAITHFULNESS TO THE IDEALS OF MONASTIC LIFE FOR THE BUILDING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THE HOLY FATHER, WHILE ENCOURAGING YOU TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE PRIMACY OF TRANSCENDENT VALUES, FOLLOWING THE LUMINOUS PATH TRACED OVER THE CENTURIES BY SO MANY CISTERCIAN MONKS AND NUNS, ASSURES YOU OF HIS REMEMBRANCE IN PRAYER AND FROM HIS HEART SENDS THE IMPLORED APOSTOLIC BLESSING TO THE CONFRERES AND SISTERS OF THE CHAPTER, HAPPILY EXTENDING IT TO THE ENTIRE MONASTIC FAMILY.

The 2025 gathering built upon earlier regional meetings. The U.S. Trappist superiors held a preparatory meeting in July 2025 to prepare for the main chapter.

For those interested in exploring joining our way of life, we invite you to visit our page Becoming a Trappist