SUCCESSOR OF ST. FRANCIS

Italian friar elected Minister General
The general chapter of the Friars Minor Conventual. meeting in Rome, have elected a 48-year-old Italian friar, Fr. Vittorio Costantini, as Minister General—the 113th successor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Fr. Vittorio was until now provincial of the Umbria province, in which Assisi is situated.
He succeeds the late Fr. Bode Hess. an American Franciscan, who died last year after 17 years as Minister General. a longer period than any of his predecessors since the 15th century.
The chapter was attended by delegates representing the 5,700 members of the order in 36 countries.