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NEW CONGREGATIONS The regulations of Pope Leo X brought a notable increase of strength to the Observantist branch, and many conventual houses joined them -- in France all but forty-eight, in Germany the greater part, in Spain practically all. But this very growth was fatal to the internal unity and strength of the strict party. The need for new reforms soon became apparent, and the action of Leo X, far from consolidating the order, gave rise to a number of new branches. The most important of these are: the Capuchin s, founded in 1525 by Matteo Bassi and established in 1619 by Paul V as a separate order; the Discalced Franciscans , founded as a specially strict Observantist congregation at Bellacazar in Spain by Juan de Puebla toward the end of the Fifteenth Century , compelled by Leo X to unite with the regular Observantists, but soon afterward reestablished as an independent branch by Juan de Guadelupe (d. 1580 ), and subsequently obtaining some importance in Spain and Portugal ; the Alcantarines , a very strict congregation founded in 1540 by Peter of Alcántara , and distinguished by remarkable achievements in the mission field; the Italian '' Riformati '', founded about 1525 near Rieti by two Spanish Observantists, and becoming comparatively wide-spread from the beginning of the Seventeenth Century through the favour of Pope Clement VIII and Pope Urban VIII ; the French Recollects , originating at Nevers in 1592 , formed into a distinct congregation by Clement VIII in 1602 , and important in later missionary history, especially in Canada . CURRENT STATUS The Franciscans also rendered important services to the cause of the Counterreformation in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, rivaling the Jesuit Order in zeal, and frequently suffering Martyrdom for their faith in England , the Netherlands , and Germany. During the nineteenth century the possessions of the order have been much reduced by the storms of the French Revolution , the German secularizations since 1803, and the political changes of Spain , Italy , and France . On the other hand, there has been a considerable extension in many parts of the order, especially in North America . The 1910 statistics of the three principal male branches of the order are approximately as follows: Order of Friars Minor 1,500 houses, comprised in about 100 provinces and ''Custodiae'', with about 16,000 members. In 1897 distinctions between the Observants, Discalced, Recollects and Riformati were dissolved by Pope Leo XIII and they were joined under a common set of constitutions. This Order is now called simply the Order Of Friars Minor . Despite the tensions caused by this forced union the Order grew from 1897 to reach a peak of 26,000 members in the 1960s before declining from the 1970s onwards. Conventuals The Conventual Franciscans consist of 290 houses, principally in Italy, but also in Bavaria, Austria, Romania, Turkey, etc. Capuchins The Order Of Friars Minor Capuchin are the youngest branch of Franciscans, going back to 1525, when some Friars Minor in the Marches wanted to live a stricter life of prayer and poverty to be closer to the original intentions of St. Francis. Thanks to the support of the Papal Court the new branch received early recognition and grew fast, first in Italy, and since 1574 all over Europe. The name Capuchins refers to the peculiar shape of the long hood; originally a popular nickname, it has become a part of the official name of the Order, which now exists in 99 countries all over the world, with around 11,000 brothers living in more than 1800 communities (fraternities, friaries). Simplicity, closeness to the people, a fraternal spirit in their houses and apostolate are visible signs that mark their lifestyle. Regular Tertiaries The Regular Tertiaries , officially the Third Order Regular Of St. Francis Of Penance , follow a rule approved by Pope Leo X . They form less than a score of houses -- two in Rome , five in Sicily , seven in Austria, and two in the United States . These figures show a great contrast to the strength of the order at the end of the Middle Ages , when it had over 8,000 houses, of which the 1,300 Observantist communities alone numbered 30,000 members, or even in the middle of the seventeenth century when there were about 70,000 members, divided into 150provinces. The noteworthy proportional decline of the non-Observantist section shows that the order to this day presents more attraction as it remains truest to its original principles. Secular Franciscan Order The Secular Franciscan Order , known as the Third Order Secular Of St. Francis prior to 1978 , is an order founded by St. Francis in 1212 for brothers and sisters who do not live in a religious community. Members of the order continue to live secular lives, however they do gather regularly for fraternal activities. In the United States alone there are 17,000 professed members of the order. REFERENCES
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