The General Council met in plenary session from the November 28 to December 9. The first day was devoted to a common recollection, led by Fr. Alexander Vella, O. Carm., of the Maltese province. This took place at the Passionists house in Rome, located near the colosseum.

The next days of the meeting were taken up with the appointments to offices in the Curia, CISA, and the General Delegation in France.

• In the General Curia community, the Vice Prior General, Benny Phang Khong Wing was reappointed for a second three-year term. Roberto Hasudungan Sianturi, the Secretary General, was appointed subprior. Christian Körner, the Bursar General, was appointed treasurer of the house.

• Tadeusz Popiela of the Polish Province will continue as prior of the community of St. Albert’s International Center (CISA) in Rome. Jose Deepak Aracka of the Indian Province was appointed subprior. Jan Wozniak of the Polish Province continues as community treasurer.

• Appointed as General Delegate for the French Delegation was Martin de la Croix Gilloux. Martin is the first Frenchman to hold the position in modern times. Also confirmed were two councilors to assist Martin: Gianfranco Tuveri of the Italian Province and François Sulistya Heru Prabawa of the Indonesian Province. They will serve a three-year term.  

During the meeting, reports from the various regions of the Order and the departments within the Curia such as the postulator general, the delegate for the nuns, and the director of communications were also received.

The plan for a meeting with the various Superiors General of Affiliated Congregations, scheduled for May 2023, continues to take shape. There was also discussion of the program for a course for the prior provincials and leaders of delegations. To accommodate the time differences between east and west, the course will be conducted online in two sessions. This is scheduled for the end of September.

The Carmelite General Council and the General Council of the Discalced Carmelites was able to meet together for a second time, returning to a practice of biannual meetings that had been in place prior to the Covid pandemic. This meeting was held on December 10th at the Discalced Curia in Rome. Much of the sharing revolved around the upcoming centenary of the canonization of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The two councils made some initial plans for a longer meeting in Lisieux in 2024.