On the 27th and 28th of November, the Prior General, Fernando Millán Romeral, O.Carm., took part in the 82nd Assembly of the Union of Superiors General, held in Rome. Some 120 Generals of orders and congregations attended. The theme chosen for this assembly was, Pope Francis: The Challenge of Gospel Leadership. This theme was in line with that of the previous assembly in May 2013, Leadership in Religious Life, 50 years after the II Vatican Council. For the two days, the generals reflected on the challenges that they face in fulfilling their mission in the style (speeches, gestures, message) of Pope Francis in view of a more gospel-like exercise of authority. On the 27th, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (CIVCSVA), celebrated the Eucharist for the participants. On the same day, Mauro Jöhri (Minister General of the Capuchins) was elected Vice-president of the USG.

On Friday, the 29th, the generals were received by Pope Francis in what is call the Synod Hall, in the Vatican. For more than three hours, he engaged in conversation with them, answering questions in the most spontaneous and fraternal way, looking at some cogent issues in religious life today (the witness that is expected of religious life, relations with bishops, the importance of formation, mission on the frontiers, the work of the consecrated life in education, inculturation etc.)

At the same time, Pope Francis announced that 2015 will be a year dedicated to consecrated life, and as he said goodbye to all he thanked them for the service that religious life gives to the Church.