Pope, Vatican officials spotlight Legionaries, Regnum Christi

Published: 2004-11-30

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a week of liturgies, meetings and official documents, Pope John Paul II and Vatican offices have spotlighted the growing influence of the Legionaries of Christ and the associated movement, Regnum Christi. The events coincided with celebrations in Rome of the 60th anniversary of the priestly ordination of the Legionaries' founder and head, Mexican Father Marcial Maciel Degollado. Among other things, the pope entrusted to the Legionaries the administration of an important church institution in the Holy Land, Jerusalem's Notre Dame Center. He also approved the statutes and charism of the Regnum Christi movement. The Vatican decree formally approving the statutes said Regnum Christi's specific charism is the same as that of the Legionaries of Christ: to help build the "civilization of Christian justice and love" by knowing, living and preaching Christ's commandment of love. The works carried out by the Legionaries and Regnum Christi today include schools and universities, Catholic media outlets, youth programs, missions, humanitarian aid, economic development, family and parenting programs and adult religious education.

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