Tuesday afternoon the Assembly was officially convened by Paulist President Fr. René Constanza. At the beginning of the Assembly Fr. René read a letter from the Apostolic Nuncio, the personal representative of Pope Leo XIV to the United States of America, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia. In his letter Archbishop Caccia said that:
As you prepare for the 2026 Ordinary General Assembly in Huntington, I gladly assure you of my prayers. At a time when division is common, your desire to gather in a spirit of patient and prayerful discernment is a meaningful witness. In his new Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV writes of “transforming diversity into a resource” and of making “listening and dialogue the common ground upon which to cultivate justice and fraternity.” These words offer a fitting encouragement for your Assembly and for the mission entrusted to your Society.
May the Holy Spirit guide your deliberations and renew among the Paulist Fathers the missionary zeal of Servant of God Isaac Hecker, so that your service to the Church may continue to help many encounter Christ and rediscover the joy of the Gospel.
