On Monday, Pope Francis received Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, C.S., Papal Delegate for the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi in audience at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. During the meeting, which lasted some 45 minutes, Cardinal De Paolis gave His Holiness a report on the different stages of the review of the Legion and the Regnum Christi, especially on his third year as Papal Delegate.
The cardinal and the Pope also spoke about the main task entrusted to the Papal Delegate: to guide the Congregation to bring to a close the elaboration of new Constitutions of the Legion of Christ, which will be presented at an Extraordinary General Chapter, to be held foreseeably at the beginning of 2014. It will be up to the Chapter also to elect the new general government of the Congregation.
Cardinal De Paolis explained to the Pope the attention he has given to Regnum Christi, which he described as “a precious reality that enriches the Legion’s field of action,” The Cardinal also spoke about the consecrated men and women and the lay people committed to the Movement.
Concluding his meeting, the Papal Delegate informed the Pope that a Statute is foreseen for the Regnum Christi, which will regulate the life of the members and their relation with the Legionaries, and which will require the approval of the Chapter, the Assemblies of the consecrated men and women and of a General Assembly.
The final result of the process of renewal of the Regnum Christi and the Legion of Christ, under the guidance of the Papal Delegate, will be presented to the Holy Father, who will make the final decisions.
