Rome, Italy, Jul 23, 2010 / 12:08 pm
The Legionaries of Christ has made public the decree that describes the powers given to Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, Pope Benedict XVI’s delegate to the religious congregation. The delegate, whose primary task will be to conduct the revision of the order's constitutions, will have full authority over Legion superiors and will coordinate the apostolic visitation of the Regnum Christi Movement.
Pope Benedict’s June 16 letter appointing Archbishop De Paolis notes the “need and urgency of a path of in-depth revision of the Institute’s charism.” He gave the archbishop the responsibility of governing the Legion “for as long as it takes to complete its path of renewal” and to lead it to an extraordinary general chapter to revise its constitutions.
A decree explaining the further details of the delegate’s duties was issued on July 9 by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, with Pope Benedict’s approval. According to the Regnum Christi website, the general council of the Legionaries of Christ received the decree on July 21. The Legion released an unofficial English translation on Friday.
The decree says the “paramount task” of the delegate was the completion of the revision of the institute’s constitutions, an effort which requires a “profound knowledge” of the congregation.