VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has appointed Brother Armin Luistro, FSC, the global head of the De La Salle Brothers, as a new member of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Vatican announced on June 24.
This prestigious appointment places Luistro among a select group of church leaders—cardinals, bishops, and religious superiors—tasked with shaping the direction and regulation of religious orders and apostolic communities across the Catholic Church.
The Dicastery plays a vital role in promoting and guiding consecrated life worldwide. Luistro’s appointment has been welcomed with pride by the global Lasallian community. In a statement, the De La Salle Brothers said, “This is a clear sign of the synodal path we Lasallians are called to walk with the Church.”
Luistro brings over three decades of experience in education and Church leadership. He made history in 2022 as the first Filipino to be elected Superior General of the De La Salle Brothers, becoming the 28th successor of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
He began his religious journey in 1979 while at De La Salle University (DLSU) and took his final vows in 1988. He has held multiple leadership roles, including as president of DLSU Manila and secretary of the Department of Education from 2010 to 2016 under President Benigno Aquino III, where he implemented the K to 12 education reform.
Luistro also co-founded De La Salle University-Indonesia and has served on various educational and intergovernmental bodies, including the UNESCO National Commission and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization.
He holds a doctorate in educational management from the University of St. La Salle, and degrees in religious education and philosophy from DLSU.