At the end of the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII expressed the wish that the numerous Benedictine congregations should come together to form a body that would unite the whole of Benedictine monasticism. The form chosen was that of a confederation, which allows each congregation to retain its canonical autonomy. The Abbot-Primate, who heads the Confederation, is elected by all the Benedictine abbots worldwide. He resides in Rome, at the Abbey of St Anselm on the Aventine Hill. The Confederation currently comprises nineteen Benedictine congregations.
Today, there are approximately 7,500 Benedictine monks worldwide and around 13,000 Benedictine nuns. Benedictine nuns’ monasteries and institutes have been associated with the Confederation and have been part of another organisation, the Communio internationalis benedictinarum (CIB), since the beginning of the century.
Jeremias Schröder was elected as the new Abbot-Primate of the Order of Saint Benedict on 14 September 2024. Born on 8 December 1964 in Mindelheim, he was Abbot-President of the Congregation of Saint Ottilien in Bavaria. He succeeds the American Gregory Polan.
The website of the Benedictine Confederation.
This website provides information on the initiatives and events of the CIB, Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum (CIB).
A very well-produced atlas of all monasteries of monks, nuns and sisters around the world.