The Benedictine Confederation

The Benedictine Confederation is the body into which the Benedictine Congregations and monasteries of the Catholic Church are gathered. It was established in 1893 by Pope Leo XIII with his brief Summum Semper.

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Membership

The Congregations of monks are the ordinary members of the Benedictine Confederation. A few single monasteries that for particular reasons have remained outside a Congregation have been admitted as extraordinary members.

Monasteries and Institutes of Benedictine Women are associated with the Benedictine Confederation and constitute the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB).

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Abbot Primate

The Abbot Primate is the head of the Benedictine Confederation. He is elected by the Congress of Abbots.

Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB
born in December 1964;
professed Erzabtei Sankt Ottilien 14 September 1985;
ordained 7 June 1992;
elected sixth archabbot of Erzabtei Sankt Ottilien 5 Oct 2000 and blessed 28 Oct 2000;
elected and confirmed abbot president of Ottilien Congregation 13 Oct 2012;
appointed administrator of Sankt Georgenberg 2021-2025;
re-elected abbot president of Ottilien Congregation 2022-2024;
elected abbot primate and abbot of Sant’Anselmo 14 September 2024

Curia Abbatis Primatis (General Secretariat)
curiaosb@anselmianum.com
Tel: +39 06 5791.267;
Fax: +39 06 5791.374

A Historical List of Abbots Primate

Governance

The Benedictine Confederation is governed by a Proper Law (Lex Propria, Latin version) and other regulations. Every four years a Congress of Abbots is held, bringing together all major superiors of monasteries of monks and representatives of other organizations. The Congress elects the abbot primate. Every year, the Abbots President of the 19 Congregations of men meet for a Synod where they discuss current matters affecting the Confederation.

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Sant’Anselmo

The abbot primate resides at Sant’Anselmo in Rome. Sant’Anselmo hosts the Curia of the abbot primate, a Pontifical Athenaeum and the Collegio, a residential community of monks who teach, study or work in the institutions of the Confederation or elsewhere in Rome.

Sant’Anselmo Contacts

Sant’Anselmo General InformationPiazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 5
00153 Rome, Italy
Tel +39 06 5791 1
Fax +39 06 5746 863info@anselmianum.com

Curia of the Abbot Primatecuriaosb@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 267

Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmowww.anselmianum.com
ufficiorettore@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 1more Athenaeum contacts here

Collegio Sant’Anselmowww.collegiosantanselmo.com
info@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 1more Collegio contacts here

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Curia Contacts

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TITLE NAME CONTACT

Abbot PrimateRmus P. Jeremias Schröder OSBcuriaosb@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 267

Procurator GeneralP. Patrick Carter OSBprocuratore@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 319

Secretary to the Abbot PrimateSig. Walter del Gaisocuriaosb@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 319

TreasurerP. Geraldo Gonzalez y Lima OSBtesoriere@anselmianum.com
+39 06 5791 336

ArchivistP. Edmund Power OSB+39 06 5791 266

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International Organizations

The Benedictine Confederation maintains international monastic organisations to foster certain goals. These organisations also involve the Cistercian Order and the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, whose way of life is also based on the Rule of St Benedict.

The Alliance for International Monasticism (AIM) promotes the human, cultural, and religious development of monasteries throughout the world, and of their surrounding populations. It facilitates reflection amongst communities living under the Rule of St. Benedict.

Dialogue Interreligieux Monastique / Monastic Interreligious Dialogue (DIMMID) promotes and supports dialogue between Christian monastic men and women and followers of other religions, especially dialogue at the level of religious experience and practice.

The International Commission on Benedictine Education (ICBE) promotes schools in the Benedictine tradition around the world.

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Regional Cooperation

In order to foster cooperation on a regional level, monastic communities have formed numerous associations, differing widely in scope and institutional depth. 

OBASC - American Subiaco Cassinese Congregation O.S.B. USA www.osbec.org

OSBEC - East Benedictine Congregation of the Primitive Observance USA www.obasc.org

ABECCA – Asociacion Benedictino-Cisterciense del Caribe y de los Andes

BEAOA – Benedictines of East Asia, Oceania and Australia

BECAN – Benedictine and Cistercian Association of Nigeria

BECOSA – Benedictine Communities of South Africa

BUANZ – The Benedictine Union of Australia and New Zealand

BUT – Benedictine Union of Tanzania

CIMBRA – Conferencia de Intercambio Monastico do Brasil (Brasil – Benedictine and Cistercian men and women)

CMF – Conférence Monastique de France

ISBF – Indian and Sri Lankan Benedictine Federation

SÄK – Salzburger Äbtekonferenz (Germany, Switzerland, Austria – Benedictine men)

SURCO – Conferencia de Comunidades Monasticas del Cono Sur (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay – Benedictine and  Cistercian men and women)

VBD – Vereinigung Benediktinischer Frauenklöster im deutschen Sprachgebiet. (Germany, Switzerland, Austria – Benedictine women)

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An Orthodox Benedictine monastery is a monastic community within the Eastern Orthodox Church that follows the Rule of Saint Benedict and other Benedictine traditions. These monasteries often fall under the jurisdiction of Western Rite Orthodox churches, like the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) or the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. 

Key aspects of Orthodox Benedictine monasteries:

• Follow the Rule of St. Benedict:

  The Rule of St. Benedict, which outlines a monastic life of prayer, work, and community, is a central element of Benedictine monasticism. 

• Western Rite Orthodoxy:

  These monasteries are part of the Western Rite tradition within Orthodoxy, which combines Orthodox theology and liturgical practice with Western-style monastic traditions. 

• Jurisdiction:

  Most Western Rite Orthodox Benedictine communities are affiliated with established Orthodox dioceses, like ROCOR or the Antiochian Archdiocese. 

• Oblate communities:

  Some Orthodox Benedictine monasteries also have associated Oblate communities where individuals who are not monks can live in the world while following the spirit of the Benedictine Rule. 

• Examples:

  Christ the Savior Monastery (Christminster) in Niagara Falls, NY is a well-known example of an Orthodox Benedictine monastery. 

• Historical context:

  Benedictine monasticism was part of the early Christian tradition and was established within the Orthodox Church before the Great Schism of 1054.