On 24 June 2025, on the day of the 345th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Pope Leo XIV appointed Brother Armin A. Luistro, Superior General, as a member of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of the Apostolic Life, i.e., the body of the Holy See which has the mission to “promote, encourage and regulate the practice of the evangelical counsels, how they are lived out in the approved forms of consecrated life, and all the matters concerning the life and activity of Societies of Apostolic life throughout the Church” (Praedicate Evangelium 121).
“It is a great honour for me to serve the Church under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV as a member of a Dicastery of the Roman Curia”, were Brother Armin’s first words of thanks to the Holy Father for his appointment, and to highlight that “I bring with me the joys and hopes, but also the griefs and anxieties of all the women and men who have consecrated their entire lives to the Lord’s service”.
Being disciples today
Faced with the new mission entrusted to him by the Church, the Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools underlines the importance of “beholding more closely the marvellous fruits of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who moves the hearts of the faithful to heed God’s call to discipleship today”.
Brother Armin also expressed his desire to “gladly share with the other members of the Dicastery my lived experience as a Religious Brother from Asia, engaged in the educational ministry”, by which, he continues, “I hope to learn together with other religious communities the exciting new paths of living our charism in a synodal way”.
19 appointments from five continents
Among the 19 persons from the five continents that Pope Leo XIV has appointed as members of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, Brother Armin is the only Religious Brother.
Five cardinals and five bishops have also been appointed: Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Card. Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Card. Cristóbal López Romero, SDB, Archbishop of Rabat (Morocco); Card. Giorgio Marengo, IMC, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia); Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins (Israel); Card. Jaime Spengler, OFM, Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil), who is also President of the Latin American Episcopal Council; Mgr Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania); Mgr Jerzy Maculewicz, OFM Conv, Apostolic Administrator of Uzbekistan; Mgr Julio César Salcedo Aquino, MJ, Bishop of Tlaxcala (Mexico); Mgr Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, CMM, Bishop of Kokstad (South Africa); and Mgr Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, MCCJ, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).
Pope Leo XIV has also appointed three other male Superiors General and four female Superiors General. They are: Stanley Lubungo, Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), Miguel Márquez Calle, Superior General of the Discalced Carmelites, and Donato Ogliari, OSB, Abbot of the Monastery of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome (Italy); and the nuns Chiara Cazzuola, Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Salesians of Don Bosco; Françoise Petit, Superior General of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul; Maria Goretti Lee, Superior General of the Hospitaller Sisters of St. Paul; and Idilia Maria Moreira Gonçalves Carneiro, Superior General of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The list is completed by Miss Luisa Muston, President General of the Secular Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sick “Christ of Hope”.
Fidelity to the charism
Among the tasks to be carried out by Brother Armin, together with those who have also been appointed members of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, is to work closely with Prefect Sister Simona Brambilla – former Superior General of the Consolata Missionary Sisters and the first woman to hold the office of Prefect in the Vatican Curia, “to ensure that Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life may make progress in following Christ in conformity with the Gospel according to their proper charism stemming from the spirit of the founder and sound traditions”, so that “they faithfully pursue their own ends and contribute effectively to the building up of the Church and its mission in the world” (Praedicate Evangelium 123).
“I count on the prayers and support of the Lasallian Family and all women and men of good will so that I may contribute worthily to the renewal of the Church and the transformation of our world,” expressed Brother Armin.