Papal delegate has sweeping authority over Legionaries
July 26, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI has granted sweeping authority to the prelate who will supervise the reform of the Legion of Christ.
Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, the Pope’s delegate, will have authority over the Legionaries and the affiliated lay group, Regnum Christi “for as long as it takes” to complete necessary reforms, under the terms of the papal appointment. The archbishop will have the power to approve or reject decisions by the Legionaries’ current leadership, make changes in the constitution of the religious order, supervise administrative decisions and admissions to Legion seminaries, and “intervene wherever he sees fit, including in the internal government of the Institute, on all levels.”
The terms of the delegate’s appointment were posted by the Legionaries on July 23. The announcement noted that all members of the Legion and of Regnum Christi would have access to Archbishop De Paolis, and that any decisions made by the papal delegate could be appealed only to the Pope himself.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Vatican decree details powers of Pope's Legion delegate (CNA)
- Pope grants broad powers to Legionaries delegate (AP)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: New Sister -
Jul. 29, 2010 10:31 AM ET USA
Can we just "sweep them away" then? Get rid of the organization and encourage the faithful Catholics, who were MISLED into it, to devote their talents elsewhere. I think it is a big mistake to waste all this energy trying to tie a rotten apple back onto the tree with string.
