About Us

After joining the Friars Minor, Markus engaged in social work for nearly twenty years in Germany.

This spanned from supporting youth from migrant families to voluntary pastoral work in prisons and homeless centers, and in-house hosting of people with HIV/Aids.

He also served as a member of the International Board of Directors and was Franciscans International’s Regional Director for Africa and Europe and its Transition Manager. Markus was appointed as Executive Director in 2015.

With over two decades of experience at both the United Nations and at the grassroots, Budi’s engagement as a human rights advocate includes work for academic institutions, social movements, and non-governmental organizations on three continents. He has contributed in several reports and articles on the impacts of climate change and natural resources exploitation on human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, and human rights situation in some countries in Asia-Pacific. Budi joined Franciscans International in 2011.

Cédric’s expertise in project management and organization management mainly stem from his time at CODAP, a youth-led human rights resource center.

He jointly ran capacity-building programs and follow-up advocacy activities in Geneva, francophone Africa, Eastern Europe, and Canada.

Cédric joined Franciscans International in 2017.

Benedict is a Capuchin friar who has long worked to mobilize his Franciscan sisters and brothers as well as other groups around climate and social justice issues.

He previously served as a member of the International Board of Directors and as director of the Capuchin’s international office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in Rome.

Benedict joined Franciscans International in 2020.

Prior to joining Franciscans International, Cynthia interned for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Operations and Advocacy Division. She also worked for the FIFDH on human rights violations, including gender-based violence, environmental justice, and freedom of expression.

She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Geneva and is fluent in English and French. Cynthia joined Franciscans International in 2023.

Lourdes is an experienced professional in administration, finances, and human resources, with a background in international relations.

Previously, she worked with various international and non-governmental organizations including the World Meteorological Organization, the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations, and the International AIDS Society.

Lourdes joined Franciscans International in 2009.

Marya is a lawyer with experience working on a range of issues including business and human rights, forcible transfer and refugees, and accountability.

She previously worked with Al-Haq in the occupied Palestinian territory and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in Geneva and Cairo, amongst other organizations. She holds Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy degrees.

Marya began working at Franciscans International in 2019.

Thomas is an all-round communications professional with experience covering the intersection between media and civil society.

Previously, he worked on emergency protection services for human rights defenders and citizen engagement projects in Uganda.

As a freelance journalist his portfolio included outlets in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Thomas joined Franciscans International in 2018.

Mickaël is an attorney who decided to make use of his knowledge of human rights and environmental law to support efforts at the grassroots to protect these rights.

His previous experience at the youth-led human rights resource center CODAP involved training and accompanying various youth groups from francophone African countries to engage with international human rights mechanisms.

Mickaël joined Franciscans International in 2020.

Ulises has strong legal and research skills, extensive thematic knowledge, and experience working with national, regional and international human rights mechanisms.

He has previously worked with the International, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) and collaborated with the Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights.

He has also published on issues related to international criminal law and international human rights law.

Ulises joined Franciscans International in 2018.

Brother Michael is former Minister General and liaison between the CFF and FI. He also worked for the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ conference as a foreign policy advisor, and at Catholic Relief Services in peacebuilding. He completed doctoral studies in religious anthropology and taught at the Scolasticat Jean XXIII in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the former Washington Theological Union in the United States. In January 2023, Brother Michael assumed the role of director of an initiative taking up the themes of Pope Francis’s encyclicals Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti  - promoting the common good, social friendship, human solidarity, and environmental justice at Siena College (Albany, New York, United States).

Brother Joseph is a Ghanaian friar of the Orders of Friars Minor Conventual and has been a member of the IBD since 2018. He took his religious vows in 1992 and was ordained as a priest in 1999. Brother Joseph holds a license in Pedagogy for Religious/Priestly Formation from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, a master’s degree in Global Development and Social Justice from St. John’s University in New York, abd , and a Ph.D. in Leadership & Policy from Niagara University. He was the General Delegate for the JPIC of his order from 2016 to 2021. From September 2021 to August 2022, Brother Joseph worked as the Executive Co-Secretary of JPIC for the Union of Superior Generals (USG/UISG) in Rome. He now resides in Elmina, Ghana, as a friary Guardian and Spiritual Director at St. Peter’s Regional Major Seminary.

Prior to becoming a Capuchin friar, Brother James worked as a software engineer for a major technology company.

After entering Religious Life, he studied Theology and Social Work, after which he spent a total of six years as a missionary in Central America. From there, he was assigned to the Capuchin General Curia in Rome, working in the area of financing and economic stability for the Order’s newer and growing circumscriptions, particularly in Africa and Asia.

Brother James holds degrees from St. Michael’s College, the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and Boston College.

Brother Eduardo’s vocation began in Mexico City, where he was part of the Franciscan Youth. He has held various ministries, including parish vicar, vocation promoter, and secretary of the Vice-Province of St. Mary of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Brother Eduardo currently serves in the United States as the pastor of St. Francis on the Brazos in the Diocese of Austin, with particular care for the many migrants in his community.

Sister Charity represents the International Franciscan Conference of the Sisters and Brothers of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis.

Originally from Zambia, she served as a local Superior for 13 years and worked on various projects supporting vulnerable children and physically challenged young women.

Since 1999, she has been involved with Franciscans International as a liaison.

Sister Charity currently serves as the Vice-Director of the SFMA Mission Secretariat in Assisi. Inspired by her own experiences, she also ministered to migrants and refugees in Caltanissetta, building bridges between them and the local communities.

Carolyn is a spiritual life and leadership coach and a loss to life mindset strategist, where she uses faith-based principles to provide spiritual and emotional wellness to women moving from the pain of grief and loss to a new life of purpose and peace.

Her passion and mission is to help them go from a place of tragedy and trauma to a place of peace and joy.

Since professing as a Secular Franciscan in 2000, Carolyn has served in several leadership roles on the local, regional, national, and international levels.

She is currently the National Animator for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) for the Secular Franciscan Order.

Carolyn weaves songs, stories and Franciscan joy into her talks, retreats, and days of reflection.

A native New Yorker, she currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina and is full-time caregiver to her mother.

Blair represents the Anglican Society of St. Francis on the Board.

Currently the Minister Provincial of the Pacific Province of the Third Order of the Society of St. Francis, he also has extensive experience with non-governmental organizations and worked for over four decades with disadvantaged people across Central America, Asia, and the Pacific.

He is the only IBD member to have successfully completed an Ironman triathlon.

After joining the Friars Minor, Markus engaged in social work for nearly twenty years in Germany.

This spanned from supporting youth from migrant families to voluntary pastoral work in prisons and homeless centers, and in-house hosting of people with HIV/Aids.

He also served as a member of the International Board of Directors and was Franciscans International’s Regional Director for Africa and Europe and its Transition Manager. Markus was appointed as Executive Director in 2015.