Appointment of a new bishop: Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, SVD
On November 21, 2025, the Holy See announced that His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed our confrere, Fr. Samuel Naceno Agcaracar, SVD, as as bishop of the diocese of San Jose, Philippines.
SVD Marks 150th Jubilee with Global Premiere of Documentary “Witnessing to the Light”
The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) marked a historic moment on August 15, 2025, with the global premiere of its official documentary, “Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere, For Everyone.” The launching was centered at the Collegio Verbo Divino community in Rome, while simultaneously streamed via Zoom. The event gathered more than 100 confreres, sisters, lay partners, and friends of the SVD family from around the world.
SVD Bishops and Generalate Gather in Nemi for Historic Forum
For the first time in the 150-year history of the Society of the Divine Word, a significant number of its bishops from across the world gathered with the Generalate for an extended dialogue on their relationship with the Society. From August 3 to 7, 2025, eighteen SVD bishops met at the Ad Gentes Center in Nemi, Italy, in what participants described as a “milestone moment of fraternity, reflection, and renewal.”
Two of our confreres are among the new cardinals announced by Pope Francis.
Today, 6 October, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, during the Angelus, announced the lists of new cardinals. As the Holy Father said, their provenance reflects the universality of the Church.
Welcoming Our New General Council Members
We welcome Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro as the 13th Superior General of the SVD and His Council: Fr. Xavier Thirukudumbam, Bro. Michael Ertl, Fr. Eryk Jan Koppa, Fr. Yulius Yasinto, Fr. Fabian Mate Kalaluka, and Fr. Jerome Marquez
Visit of Bishops from Japan
After the ad limina visit, Archbishop Isao Kikuchi, SVD, of the Archdiocese of Tokyo and Bishop Daisuke Narui, SVD, of the Diocese of Niigata, together with Archbishop Michiaki Nakamura and Bishop Goro Matsuura, visited Collegio del Verbo Divino…
Grazie mille, Praeses Jose Antonio
After a dedicated service of several years, Father Jose Antonio Gomez SVD folds up another phase of his missionary journey as he returns to his home country, Mexico. He served as Praeses with the growing demand for Centro Ad Gentes Nemi.
75 years of the presence of the Society of the Divine Word in Portugal
Father Jose Antunes da Silva expressed deep joy and satisfaction at the beginning of the 75th jubilee year of the Society of the Divine Word in Portugal.
Caritas Internationalis elects Archbishop Kikuchi as new president
The 22nd General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis elects Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi as the new president of the Church’s charitable outfit for a four-year term.
