Pope Greets Legionaries: Tells 59 New Priests to Learn From St. John Vianney

(December 17, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday greeted the 59 newly ordained priests of the Legionaries of Christ, who are expecting the apostolic visitation of their congregation to conclude in March. The Pope exhorted the priests to learn from St. John Mary Vianney, as he greeted them and members of Regnum Christi at the end of the general audience in Paul VI Hall. The priests, from 11 nations, including Vietnam, were ordained December 12 at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. The Holy Father had also greeted them during Sunday's Angelus address. The Pope said: "To the new priests, I want to remind you on the occasion of this Year for Priests, to learn from St. John Maria Vianney love for Christ and generous service to the Church. May the gift of yourselves always be complete, full and joyful, never forgetting the Lord's predilection for your lives." The apostolic visitation of the congregation, under way since July, is expected to conclude in March. This news was communicated by the Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, to the congregation's general-director, Father Álvaro Corcuera. The apostolic visitation was called by the Holy Father after the congregation confirmed in February that the life of their founder, Father Marcial Maciel, included actions gravely contrary to Catholic moral teaching.