(09 Jul 10 - RV)Pope Benedict has appointed the president of the Prefecture for the
Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as pontifical delegate for the Congregation of the
Legionaries of Christ.
Archbishop Velasio De Paolis is an Italian native
and member of the congregation of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo.
The
appointment of a Papal delegate to the legion was announced after a meeting held in
the Vatican April last between the Holy Father and the five bishops who had conducted
a visitation of the Legionaries' institutions over the past year.
The visitation
was ordered following revelations of sexual abuse by the order's late founder, Father
Marcial Maciel Degollado.
The Vatican said the visitation highlighted three
primary requirements: The need to "redefine the charism" of the Legionaries of Christ,
the need to revise the exercise of authority in the order and the need to preserve
the enthusiasm and missionary zeal of younger members through adequate formation.
The Legionaries of Christ have welcomed the appointment and in a message
on their website “once again express their deep gratitude to the Holy Father for his
fatherly solicitude, and put themselves completely at the disposal of Archbishop de
Paolis”.