Franciscans International

26/08/2026

Ahead of Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review in November, Franciscans International took part in a pre-session at the to prepare for the examination. Together with our partners, we’re making recommendations to address four key areas of concern:

🟢 Human trafficking – Strengthen the identification and protection of victims, particularly children, by ensuring adequate funding and the effective enforcement of anti-trafficking laws.

🟢 Domestic violence – Strengthen the response to domestic violence through compulsory training for frontline services and improve access to shelters for victims.

🟢 Migrants & ethnic minorities – Ensure adequate accommodation and integration for migrants and refugees, improve access to employment and education, and address discrimination affecting Traveller and Roma communities.

🟢 Climate concerns – Prohibit the import of fracked gas, ensure meaningful public participation, and prioritize non-fossil alternatives for energy resilience.

Through the , Ireland has an opportunity to turn these commitments into concrete action to protect human rights, dignity, and our common home!

11/08/2026

Today, we celebrate a life where contemplation and determination became an inspiration for courage, advocacy, and action. Saint Clare of Assisi reminds us that faithfulness to our mission can overcome opposition and that even a Portiuncula – a “little portion” – can become part of something much greater.

May her legacy continue to inspire us to contemplate deeply, act courageously, and remain committed to the work of dignity, peace, and care for creation.

Happy Feast of Saint Clare!

During this first half of August, the Franciscan Family celebrates two important feasts, that of Our Lady of the Angels ...

28/07/2026

This week, we were delighted to welcome members of the Secular Franciscan Order from Milan to the offices of Franciscans International in Geneva.
It was a wonderful opportunity to share experiences, reflect on our common Franciscan values, and discuss how we can work together to promote human dignity, justice, and care for our common home.
Thank you for your visit, your inspiring commitment, and the enriching exchange. Together, we continue building bridges of solidarity across borders!

02/07/2026

Today, we joined the Geneva Environment Network - Réseau environnement de Genève (GEN) at to explore the “Rights of Nature”, a concept that considers nature not as a commodity, but as an independent subject with its own inherent rights.

Already adopted by some countries including Ecuador and Panama, this view echoes many traditional beliefs – including those espoused by Saint Francis of Assisi. At the same time, it also raises profound questions around representation and stewardship.

Want to learn more? Check out https://tiny.cc/HRC62RightsofNature

01/07/2026

We send our warmest congratulations to Sister Alessandra Smerilli FMA on her appointment as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Taking up the position at a time of profound global challenges, and as the first women to do so, we hope that her dedication and expertise will make a lasting contribution as we work together to build a more just and equitable world.

Franciscans International also expresses its gratitude to Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ for his years of service, particularly his tireless defense of the dignity of migrants and refugees. In this context, we fondly recall his contributions to our 2020 publication “Tearing Down the Walls” that dispelled common myths surrounding migrations and empowered grassroots communities dedicated to their protection.

On June 30, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A. - until now Secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human ...

23/06/2026

The global food system and fossil fuel industry aren’t just closely intertwined – they are codependent. This situation does not only cause profound harm to the climate and the environment, it also exposes global food supplies to shock and uncertainty.

At , we joined FIAN International during a side-event with the UN Special Rapporteur on climate change to discuss her latest reports, which documents these challenges and explores alternatives for a healthier and more just food system.

📖 Check out the full report at https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc6244-transforming-food-systems-safe-climate-and-health-all

22/06/2026

Madagascar is facing an ongoing drought that has already plunged hundreds of thousands into food insecurity. With climate change further driving the severity of the crisis, the dire conditions are displacing a growing number of people. In 2024, the JPIC OFS Madagascar conducted a fact-finding mission to better understanding the impact and scope of the problem, eventually presenting their findings and recommendations at Madagascar’s 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

This week, they are returning to the Mahajanga region to better understand the implications of the UPR outcomes and gather more information on the current situation. Over the next couple of days, Franciscans will meet with displaced communities, host communities, and local authorities in Andranofasika, Anjiajia, and Tsaramandroso.

Keep an eye out for the findings of this mission, which we hope to publish in a report toward the beginning of 2027.

22/06/2026

🌱 Food systems are at the heart of the climate crisis.

🏭 Industrial food corporations, backed by fossil fuels and petrochemicals, continue to drive emissions, pollution, environmental destruction, and human rights abuses.

⚖️ Why is corporate accountability essential for climate justice and the right to food?

📢 Join us at HRC 62 for a powerful discussion connecting communities’ lived experiences with the urgent need to transform food systems through a human rights-based approach.

📅 22 June 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM CET
📍 Room IX

🎙️ Speakers:
• Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change

• Zainal Fuad Arifin, La Via Campesina
• Representative of FIAN Honduras
• Francesca Mingrone, Center for International Environmental Law

🎧 English-Spanish interpretation available.

Together, we can advance food systems that protect people, the planet, and future generations.

15/06/2026

Just Transition is about more than shifting to a low-carbon future – it is about ensuring that climate action leaves no one, nowhere, behind🌍

At , we brought together grassroots representatives, experts, and diplomats to lay out that climate impacts are not only scientific or economic, but also profoundly moral.

Structural global inequalities persist. Historical responsibilities remain unresolved. All too often, key stakeholders still fail to reach consensus on what a truly just transition entails.

As the Climate Meeting in moves into its second week, we will continue our collective advocacy to remind negotiators that any transition can only be considered just if it delivers justice.

12/06/2026

No break in ! On Saturday, we’ll organize a side-event together with The Lutheran World Federation, Dominicans for Justice and Peace and the World Council of Churches to provide ethical perspective son . If you’re at , we hope you’ll join us to explore how we can advance inclusive that leaves no one behind.