Laurence Freeman OSB

Laurence Freeman was born in England in 1951 where he was educated by the Benedictines and studied English Literature at New College, Oxford University. Before entering monastic life, he had experience with the United Nations in New York, banking and journalism.

Today Fr Laurence is a Benedictine monk of the Monastery of Sta Maria di Pilastrello, Lendinara, in the Benedictine Congregation of Monte Oliveto.

In addition to his work on contemplative life in Christianity, he has conducted dialogues and initiatives for world peace such as the ‘Road of Peace’ together with the Dalai Lama. P. Laurence is active in inter religious dialogue and directs the teaching of meditation to children and young people, as part of the recovery of the contemplative tradition in the Church and in society at large. He is the director of the  Benedictine Community of the WCCM and in 2010 he launched the Meditatio programme as the implementing arm of the Community to mark the celebration of its twentieth anniversary.

Among other activities, she currently teaches Meditation and Leadership at McDonough Business School at Georgetown University in Washington DC and runs the ‘Healing from the Center’ course at the Royal College of Medicine in Ireland.

Father Laurence received the Order of Canada in 2012 in recognition of his work for inter religious dialogue and the promotion of world peace.