Press release

Vatican City, 12 August 2026

Prot. N. 512/26

Following Pope Francis’s Apostolic Letter Desiderio desideravi on the liturgical formation of the People of God [29 June 2022, in AAS 113/7 (2022) 799–825], the Plenary Assembly of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (6–9 February 2024) held discussions aimed at identifying pathways for liturgical formation for ordained ministers and the lay faithful.

Wishing to continue this reflection, the Dicastery organised a meeting from 14 to 19 August 2026 at the Benedictine Abbey of Mount Angel, in Oregon (https://www.mountangelabbey.org): a number of cardinals, bishops and laypeople, from diverse backgrounds and ecclesial experiences, were invited to engage in joint reflection with the aim of defining shared, concrete and practical proposals.

The choice of a monastic community signifies the intention to engage in dialogue within a prayerful setting, allowing oneself to be ‘formed by the liturgy’ (cf. Desiderio desideravi 55–60). Rather than a scholarly conference, it will be a time of spiritual discernment on the theme of liturgical formation, to continue along the path charted by Sacrosanctum Concilium.

The Holy Father sent a message to Cardinal Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, in which, in addition to wishing the participants fruitful work, he offers them some points to help them achieve the meeting’s objective.