Day 13:
On 15 September 2025, the morning session included dialogue with Augustinian sisters and laity, focusing on collaboration, mutual support, and the possibility of new monastic presences. At 11:00, the assembly was joined by Pope Leo XIV, who was warmly welcomed and celebrated with birthday greetings. In his address, the Pope stressed interiority as a source of strength for mission, encouraged renewed commitment to vocations and formation, urged scholars to serve with humility, and reminded the Order of its duty to share temporal goods. He also called for revival of the missionary spirit and fidelity to the freshness of the first call, before engaging in a Q&A, imparting his blessing, and joining the friars for lunch. In the afternoon, the new general council was formally inaugurated, bringing the day’s work to a close.
Day 14:
On 16 September 2025, the morning plenary, focused on revising proposals from the Instrumentum Laboris concerning vocations, formation, constitutions, and the communion of goods, with emphasis on strengthening the Augustinian Institute of Spirituality and creating a Ratio Oeconomica. In the afternoon, the assembly continued evaluating proposals on mission, community life, structures, and inter-circumscriptional collaboration, concluding the day’s work at 7:00 p.m.
Day 15:
On 17 September 2025, the morning and afternoon sessions focused on examining and voting on over 50 proposals concerning structures, temporal goods, community life, mission, and collaboration, including constitutional revisions such as naming St. Joseph Protector of the Order and preventing the accumulation of offices. Special attention was given to fostering greater ties with laity, confraternities, and other Augustinian families (OAD, OAR), as well as the proposal for new missions and strengthening Augustinian studies. The capitulars also approved a letter to Pope Leo XIV requesting the proclamation of St. Thomas of Villanova as a Doctor of the Church and reviewed a draft statement reaffirming fraternity, justice, and peace. The day concluded with Vespers and preparations for the final session.
Day 16:
On 18 September 2025, the final day of the 188th Ordinary General Chapter began with morning prayer, followed by voting on the proposals through a distributed booklet. After Mass at 12:15 pm, the capitulars reconvened in the afternoon to hear the results, with all proposals approved and the minutes of the Chapter unanimously accepted. The Prior General, Fr. Joseph Farrell, expressed gratitude to all who contributed, especially the secretary, before closing the Chapter with prayer and the singing of the Salve Regina.
