Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday, 24 June, appointed De La Salle Brother Armin Luistro as a member of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
According to the Vatican, the Dicastery is a department under the Roman Curia tasked with promoting, encouraging, and regulating the practice of evangelical counsels.
It is also responsible for approving cases in which a vowed member seeks to leave religious life — or is asked to do so by their community — and oversees the establishment of new religious orders. In addition, it approves constitutions and manages mergers, suppressions, and unions of orders and superiors general.
Luistro is the first Asian to serve as Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, popularly known as the De La Salle Brothers.
The De La Salle Brothers operate several educational institutions across the Philippines, including De La Salle University (DLSU).
La Salle Global hailed Luistro’s appointment, calling it "a clear sign of the synodal path Lasallians are called to walk in communion with the Church."
“We extend our best wishes to Brother Armin in this new mission, trusting that his service will be a valuable contribution to the entire consecrated life of the Church,” the group added.
Before becoming Superior General, Luistro served as Secretary of the Department of Education under the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
He began his teaching career as a religion teacher at De La Salle Lipa in 1983. He became Provincial of the De La Salle Brothers Philippine District in 1997, a post he held until 2003.
In 2000, he co-founded the De La Salle Catholic University Manado in Indonesia.
By 2004, Luistro succeeded Andrew Gonzalez as President of the DLSU System, making him president of eight De La Salle institutions.