Karlobag, October 22, 1998 (IKA) – The annual session of the Capuchin Conference of Central and Eastern Europe is being held from October 21 to 24 in the Capuchin monastery in Karlobag. In addition to Croatian representatives, session participants include Capuchin provincials and representatives from Poland, Rumania, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Byelorussia, Ukraine, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moravia, Slovenia, Albania and the president of the Conference of the Superiors of the Capuchin Order of Italy that numbers 24 provinces. Also attending was the general definitor of the Capuchin order, Father Tadeusz Barghiel, who represents the conference in the general administration of the Capuchin order in Rome. In the three days that the conference will be in session, there will be discussion on the current situation in individual regions of Central and Eastern Europe in which Capuchin monks are active. Since Capuchins are mostly present in countries undergoing transition, they must confront a number of problems regarding the spiritual and material renewal of these territories, and require an even greater degree of solidarity and readiness for mutual assistance. Therefore, the Capuchin monks invited Father Linus Faeh of Switzerland, the general secretary for the missions of the Capuchin order and the coordinator of the Commission for Solidarity, to attend the conference.