From March 24 to 27, 2026, in the city of Istanbul (Turkey), at the convent of the Friars Minor of Santa Maria Draperis, the annual meeting of the Coordination Committee of the Franciscan Network of the Mediterranean (RFMed) took place.
The choice of Istanbul is no coincidence: a bridge city between East and West, a meeting point of cultures and religions, it represents today more than ever a concrete sign of dialogue and a call for peace in a global context marked by tensions and conflicts.
The meeting opened with a visit to the island of Büyükada, in the Sea of Marmara, where participants met with the fraternity of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and became closely acquainted with the reality of the “Citadel of Flowers.” In this context, listening directly to stories of migration offered a concrete insight into the dynamics of suffering and hope that cross the Mediterranean today. From this experience emerged a desire to further strengthen the network, starting from the real lives of people.
The Committee’s work unfolded through moments of mutual listening and sharing of the mission. Particular importance was given to the testimony of the friars working in Istanbul, Fr. Felianus Dogon, guardian of the fraternity, and Fr. Antonius Duma, who presented the core of their pastoral service.
The days were mainly dedicated to evaluating the three main areas of the network—migrants, dialogue and peace, and youth—with a review of the activities carried out in 2025 and planning for the 2026–2027 biennium. The annual report was also presented, and the communication strategies of the RFMed were reconsidered.
A significant contribution was made by Fr. Eunan McMullan, who presented the activities of Franciscans International, offering a broader view of Franciscan commitment at the global level.
The meeting was further enriched by a virtual connection with Fr. Alexis Leproux, from Marseille, responsible for the Ecclesial Coordination of the Mediterranean, with whom it was possible to present the network and strengthen bonds of collaboration among the various ecclesial realities of the Mediterranean basin.
These days have confirmed the urgency and value of continuing to build relationships, promote dialogue, and support paths of peace, in a space—the Mediterranean—that today continues to be both a frontier and a barrier to the building of fraternity among peoples.
