Final Declaration: Meeting of the General Congregation of the Order, the General Council of the Fraternity, and the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of Itaka-Escolapios

On March 5th and 6th, 2026, the General Congregation of the Order, the General Council of the Fraternity, and the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of Itaka-Escolapios met in Rome at San Pantaleo. It was a relevant and significant meeting of the main teams responsible for leading and promoting this Network of shared mission, from a global vision of service to the building of the Pious Schools.

The meeting took place during a very emotional and meaningful time for our entire Network: we are celebrating 25 years since Itaka-Escolapios was officially founded as a platform for institutional shared mission between the Order and the Fraternity, an entity that would later be recognized as a reality of collective charismatic and legal integration of the Pious Schools.

With profound joy and gratitude, we received during our meeting the words that Pope Leo XIV wrote to Itaka-Escolapios on the occasion of this Jubilee commemoration, along with his blessing for all those who participate in our Network. These two intense days have been an opportunity to listen to one another and share our impressions of the current situation of the Network, engaging in dialogue in groups and in plenary sessions, to delve deeper into the challenges and find new paths. In our prayers and Eucharistic celebrations, the Word of God has enlightened us, through texts such as the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16), the Samaritan woman (Jn 4), and the parable of the vineyard (Mt 21), which challenge us as Itaka-Escolapios.

Although the work of systematically compiling our reflections and transforming them into concrete proposals and actions remains, we can already share some ideas that have resonated strongly during these days.

First, we understand Itaka-Escolapios as a privileged and cherished space, both for the Order and the Fraternity, for developing their shared mission through the reciprocity of diverse vocations. Therefore, Itaka-Escolapios is not an addition to the Pious Schools but an integral part of them, a network that offers great opportunities to live the Piarist charism synodally and with creative fidelity.

What do we feel the Order of the Pious Schools is asking of Itaka-Escolapios today? Above all, to promote life: not only to care for what already exists (which is fundamental), but also to generate new Piarist life, keeping in mind that the focus must be on the mission and those to whom it is directed, not on the institutions and their internal dynamics.

Some aspects of the mission we share at Itaka-Escolapios have been particularly emphasized, such as our transformative presence in the peripheries and in areas of greatest poverty and vulnerability, as well as our pastoral work with children and young people in the Calasanz Movement, a commitment supported by the Order. Also highlighted is our promotion, through our actions, of a culture of networking, the Piarist model of presence, and the Piarist Christian community.

The flexibility and adaptability of Itaka-Escolapios' approach to different situations, attending to the unique circumstances of each Piarist reality, have been especially noteworthy. We believe that this way of living communion, accompanying and respecting diversity, must continue to be a core value of our Network. Likewise, we recognize the significant contribution that the participation of so many volunteers makes to the Pious Schools, giving their best through the projects, as well as the professional structure of Itaka-Escolapios. We are aware, however, that Itaka-Escolapios is a complex reality, sometimes not fully understood, or that we are not able to adequately convey. Therefore, we are committed to finding ways to express our being more simply, paying special attention to language, the flow of information, and how we communicate internally and externally.

The fraternal spirit and communion that has accompanied us throughout this meeting, together with the affection and commitment to Itaka-Escolapios shown by its founding institutions—the Order and the Fraternity—reaffirms us and fills us with confidence in the path ahead, despite the difficulties we also encounter. In particular, it propels us forward in the final stretch of this six-year Piarist term, which will conclude in 2027 with important events: the 49th General Chapter, the 3rd Assembly of the General Fraternity, and the 6th Advisory Council of the Itaka-Escolapios Network.

A shared, synodal path, which is nothing other than a continuation of the steps taken by Saint Joseph Calasanz, from whom we take this phrase read during one of the most moving moments of these past few days:

«The shortest and easiest path to being exalted to self-knowledge and, from there, to mercy, patience, and kindness of God, is about humbling oneself to give light to children, and especially to those who are seemingly abandoned by all»

We invoke him, Saint Joseph Calasanz, and Mary, Mother of the Pious Schools, to accompany and guide us on our journey, helping us to be faithful to what the Spirit directs for the Itaka-Escolapios Network.

In San Pantaleo, Rome, on March 6, 2026, the anniversary of the approval of the Pauline Congregation of the Pious Schools (1617).