The worldwide Benedictine Order is headed by the Abbot Primate in Rome. However he is primarily a liaison between the Order and the Holy See and has no direct involvement with governance of monasteries. This is performed within 21 Congregations of Benedictines, each with their own history, hierarchy and legislation. Our Congregation (the Subiaco Congregation) began in the 19th century as a reform movement among some Italian monasteries, including St. Benedict’s own first monastery at Subiaco. These were soon joined by other European monasteries and new foundations in other lands. Our Congregation may be unique in its international character. There are the English, Italian, Flemish, French, Spanish, German, African, Filipino and Vietnamese Provinces which are presided over by the Abbot President in Rome.

The Abbot Visitor is the highest official in a Province who exercises a fatherly care over the monasteries of the Province, fosters union among them and acts as liaison for them with the Congregation. His title reflects his job of presiding over each monastery’s Canonical Visitation which is required every two to four years. The Visitation is a time when the monastery’s financial situation and other issues are examined by the Visitor and a Co-Visitor of his choice. Each community member meets with the Visitors privately and can voice his or her concerns, problems or praises about life in the monastery. Afterwards the Visitors can make recommendations for improvement. If the monastery is experiencing serious problems, the Visitor can decree action, and in the rare event recovery is unlikely can even suppress the monastery. The Abbot Visitor also presides at Abbatial elections. He is elected for a term of eight years.

In November 2006 the Abbot President conducted his Visitors Council meetings here at St. Mary's. All the Abbot Visitors of the Subiaco Congregation were present. Most are/were ruling Abbots in their own monasteries, listed below after his province. With Fr. Gregory presiding at Mass, the concelebrants were, from left to right, Fr. Anselm Atkinson (English), Fr. Christophe Vuillaume (Procurator General), Abbot André Ouédraogo (African, Koubri), Abbot Kris Op De Beeck (Flemish, Keizersberg), Abbot Tarcisio Narciso (Filipino, Our Lady of Montserrat), Abbot Jacques Damestoy (French, Belloc), Abbot Albert Altenähr (German, Kornelimünster), Abbot Stéphane Huynh Quang Sanh (Vietnamese, Thien An), Fr. Augusto Ricci (Italian), Abbot Josep M. Soler (Spanish, Montserrat), Abbot President Bruno Marin.