“Council of 16” meeting: communion and synodality at the service of the Church

15 November 2024. A periodic meeting was held at the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life with the “Council of 16,” a body that represents a valuable space for dialogue between the Dicastery and the Unions of Superiors General (USG and UISG). Composed of Superiors General, the Council meets twice a year to discuss the challenges and prospects of consecrated life in the world.

The meeting was attended by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, Prefect of the Dicastery, Sister Simona Brambilla, MC, Secretary of the same Dicastery, along with the two Undersecretaries and Office Heads.

This tradition of sharing and communion, which has continued for more than 50 years, testifies to a joint commitment to address the most pressing issues affecting the mission and future of consecrated life in the Church and the world. It is not only an opportunity to work together, but it is also an experience of ecclesial communion, a tangible sign of that synodality that the Holy Father invites us to live with ever greater depth. Through these meetings, the Dicastery renews its support for consecrated life in its many expressions, encouraging it to be a living witness of hope and light for humanity.