Franciscans of Saint Bonaventure Province

Friars Minor Conventual

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Iran’s only Catholic Bishop, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, forced to evacuate to Rome

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After traveling to Rome in January to participate in the consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV, and despite the escalating anti-government protests in Iran, 62 year old Conventual Franciscan Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, the Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan and the only priest of his Archdiocese, was adamant to return to the 2,000 Roman Catholics, mostly non-Iranians, who reside there.
As the conflict drastically worsened with US/Israeli bombings and the death of the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which occurred just 1.2 miles from the Italian embassy where the Archdiocesan headquarters is located, the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the embassy would close for “security reasons, “ and staff would be relocated to Baku, Azerbaijan. Because of this and considering most of the Roman Catholic population had already left, Cardinal Mathieu had no choice but to also evacuate with “sorrow and pain for the sake of my brothers and sisters there.”

Read more about Cardinal Dominique’s journey:

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Safeguarding Statement

The Franciscan Friars Conventual of St. Bonaventure Province are committed to creating safe environments for children and vulnerable adults.

Every friar in active ministry must complete training in Virtus (the National Catholic Risk Retention Group) and any other safe environment compliances required by the dioceses in which they serve.

In addition, St. Bonaventure Province has its own Safe Environment Commission that oversees the implementation and monitoring of the Province’s Policies, Procedures, and Protocols for Ethical Ministry with Minors and Vulnerable Adults. 

Any allegation regarding the Franciscan Friars Conventual of this Province receives an immediate response. This includes the Province’s full cooperation with local law enforcement authorities and Ordinaries who have ecclesial jurisdiction over these matters, as well as a duly diligent investigation by a qualified third party in order to substantiate credibility.