Vatican City – Words imbued with gratitude, remembrance, and prophecy. This morning, Pope Leo XIV welcomed the participants of the General Chapter of the Vallombrosan Congregation of the Order of Saint Benedict, at the conclusion of proceedings which confirmed the principal offices: Dom Giuseppe Casetta as Abbot General, Dom Pedro Savelli as Procurator General, and Dom Marco Mizza as Economus. The chapter also elected Dom Andrea Benedetto Ferri as Secretary General and Prefect of Studies.
The Holy Father began by thanking the monks for their silent yet eloquent witness, capable of reminding the whole Church of the primacy of God as the source of true joy and the origin of both personal and social transformation.
Who are the Vallombrosans?
The Vallombrosan monks form a Benedictine congregation founded in 1039 by Saint John Gualbert at a place once known as Acquabella, near Vallombrosa in Tuscany. Belonging to the Order of Saint Benedict (O.S.B. Vall.), they have historically stood out for their fight against simony, corruption, and worldliness in the Church, as well as for the introduction of lay brothers (conversi). They are also known as forest monks, having managed the Vallombrosa forestwith advanced techniques from the Middle Ages through to the 19th century.
Among their main centres are the Abbey of Vallombrosa, raised to the status of minor basilica in 1950, and several other foundations in Tuscany and Northern Italy, including San Mercuriale in Forlì and Astino in Bergamo. Their tradition continues to this day, with communities that keep alive the Benedictine Rule, spiritual depth, environmental stewardship, and a contemplative monastic life.
Dwelling in the challenges of the present
In his address, Pope Leo XIV recalled the original vocation of Saint John Gualbert, founder of the Congregation, who – driven by a thirst for evangelical authenticity – created a “novum institutum”, capable of returning to the genuine sources of Christian life. The Pope extended the same invitation today to the Congregation and, through it, to the whole Church: not to fall into nostalgia for the past, but to inhabit the present with fidelity and depth.
“We are often less strong than in the past, less young, fewer in number,” the Pope acknowledged, “but the Gospel, accepted sine glossa, will never cease to spread the fragrance of its beauty.” These words do not shy away from the challenges of the present but reveal a decisive key for the future: not defending a structure, but allowing oneself to be renewed by the Gospel.
Recalling Saint Paul VI, the Pope rooted this call within a very specific ecclesial context: that of the Second Vatican Council, whose spirit – he noted – still challenges us today to overcome self-referentiality and to strengthen bonds of communion, especially among the various Benedictine families.
The Pope’s final exhortation was particularly striking: “Let nothing hold you back from the original call to reform, to renew, and to simplify, for the benefit of all, that Christian life which can still widen the horizons and the breath of every human existence.”
This phrase encapsulates the heart of the Pope’s message: a reform not of structures, but of spirit, so that consecrated life may once again become leaven and ferment for today’s world.
He concluded by encouraging concrete fidelity to daily places and routines, where Benedictine spirituality can continue to offer its gentle and revolutionary strength.
“Be attentive and hospitable witnesses,” the Pope said, before imparting his apostolic blessing.
Pope Leo explained: “We are often less strong than in the past, less young, fewer in number, sometimes wounded by human limitations and mistakes, but the Gospel, accepted sine glossa, will never cease to spread the fragrance of its beauty. Let nothing hold you back from the original call to reform, to renew, and to simplify, for the benefit of all, that Christian life which can still widen the horizons and breath of every human existence.”
It is a clear and powerful encouragement: for the Vallombrosans, but also for all those in the Church who today seek a “nova conversio” capable of integrating prayer, work, and joy in the restless heart of our time.
Santa Prassede: A Story of Decline
It is regrettable that the Vallombrosan monks chose to reconfirm Dom Pedro Savelli as Procurator General. His conduct within the Order, as well as the pastoral and administrative choices made over the years, raise serious concerns. A symbolic example is the situation of the Basilica of Santa Prassede in Rome, where he resides and leads a community that has become diminished in number and marked by visible decline, the result of a leadership style that appears ineffective, ideological, and disoriented.
This basilica, a jewel of art and spirituality, deserves far more. It should shine through the discreet yet eloquent presence of a monastic community rooted in prayer, well-celebrated liturgy, and Benedictine simplicity. Instead, what is perceived is a progressive emptying of its original charism. The ecclesial vision animating this reality still seems to reflect the ideological drifts of a certain post-conciliar mentality – more focused on cultural battles than on faithfulness to the Rule and the spirit of Saint Benedict.
It is not the first time in history that Santa Prassede has suffered due to the mediocrity of those entrusted with its care. Already in the 12th century, when it was entrusted to the Canons Regular of Santa Maria del Reno of Bologna, poor governance led Pope Celestine III to revoke the assignment. In 1198, Innocent III entrusted the basilica to the Vallombrosan monks, confident in their commitment to prayer and the quality of their liturgical life.
Today, unfortunately, that confidence appears to have been betrayed. The Vallombrosan presence at Santa Prassede could have been a powerful sign of spiritual renewal and monastic witness at the heart of Christendom. Instead, it appears to be a missed opportunity, marked by self-referential logic and a vision of the Church that is far from the authentic Benedictine spirit.
d.A.B.
Silere non possum