Pope Francis encourages renewal of Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ
June 27, 2013: Pope Francis has confirmed the mandate of Papal Delegate Cardinal
Velasio De Paolis for the Legionaries of Christ until 2014 and commended him for his
work in fostering renewal within the Congregation following the 2010 visitation. Below
a translation of the letter from Pope Francis to Cardinal Velasio De Paolis: To
my Venerable Brother Cardinal Velasio De Paolis In an audience on May 27th, you
explained the progress of the ministry of Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries
of Christ which my beloved predecessor, Benedict XVI, entrusted to you on June 16,
2010. I would like to thank you for having brought me up to speed on what you have
done in fulfilling this delicate task. As well, I would like to assure you that I
have carefully considered what you presented to me in the report you sent with your
letter on May 10th, as well as the content of the prior reports and the material regarding
the Apostolic Visitation which took place in 2009 and 2010. I confirm that your
mandate will last until the celebration of the extraordinary Chapter of the Congregation
of the Legionaries of Christ, which you will preside, and which will be held at the
beginning of the beginning of 2014. The Chapter’s main tasks will be the election
of a new Government for the Institute and the approval of the new Constitutions, which
you will then take care to send me in order to examine them according to standard
procedure. These will be fundamental steps in the path towards the authentic and profound
renewal of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ and, indirectly, as well
for the activity of the whole Regnum Christi Movement. Please keep me up to date
on the process of preparation for the Chapter. I am invoking the aid of the Holy Spirit
so that He will inspire in all the religious a greater dedication to the task of discernment
regarding their vocation within the Church and the world. I extend warm thanks
for this task to which you have so generously committed yourself. Please extend a
word of encouragement on my behalf to all the Legionaries of Christ, to the Consecrated
Men and Women of the Regnum Christi Movement and the lay people committed in it. I
assure them all a place in my prayers and I send a special Apostolic Blessing to all,
entrusting them to the care of Mary, Mother of the Church. From the Vatican, June
19, 2013.