Top Vatican finance official to become delegate to Legionaries?

June 21, 2010

Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, the president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, will soon be named as the Pope’s delegate to supervise the affairs of the Legionaries of Christ, according to Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale.

The Vatican has not commented on Tornielli’s report. On May 1 the Vatican announced that the Pontiff would appoint an apostolic delegate for the order, which has been in turmoil since revelations that the late Father Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries, had led a double life. The Vatican did not indicate when the delegate would be appointed. On June 17 the Pope met with Father Alvaro Corcuera Martinez del Rio, the superior general of the Legionaries, prompting speculation that the appointment was imminent.

The selection of Archbishop De Paolis, a prelate with considerable background in financial affairs, would make sense in light of concerns over the considerable assets owned by the Legionaries, and the concerns that Father Maciel had used those assets for his own private purposes.

In related news, a Mexican man who says that he is the son of the late Father Maciel, has announced that he plans to bring suit against the religious order, alleging negligence. The man is represented by Jeffrey Anderson, the lawyer who has won tens of millions of dollars in settlements for abuse victims in the US.

 

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Further information:

• Vatican expert announces possible name of delegate to the Legion (CNA)
• Legionari di Cristo, il “delegato” sarà De Paolis (Il Giornale)
• Mexican man to sue Legion of Christ for fraud (AP)
• Pope moves to take control of Legion of Christ (CWN, 5/1)