Some developments for Franciscans and Legionaries

Having recently received some questions regarding the situation of the Franciscans of the Immaculate and of the Legionaries of Christ, the Director of the Vatican Press Office released some information yesterday which he had received from the Secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The Franciscans of the Immaculate
The Commissioner, Father Volpi, and all the seminarians of the Franciscans of the Immaculate were received by the Holy FAther on June 10 of this year, at the Casa Santa Marta.  This is a gesture which demonstrates the interest with which Pope Francis is following the developments concerning the Franciscans of the Immaculate and his close attention to the work which is being carried out by the Commissioner in the name of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Holy Father is punctually informed about all that is taking place in this regard.  At this time, the Franciscans are seeking a house in Rome, where the brothers who are studying at the Pontifical Roman University may live.

The Legionaries
As planned, with the celebration of the General Chapter, the said Institute has been returned to the competence of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.  Thus is terminated the work of the Apostolic Delegate.  As a gesture of fraternal closeness, the Prefect and the Secretary of the Dicastery will return on July 3 to the Central See of the Legionaries in order to comment personally on some corrections which need to be made to the text of the Constitution presented to the Dicastery and to communicate the name of the Pontifical Assistant.  The corrections to the text of the Constitution are few.  As to the Assistant, this will be - as was previously foreseen - a Religious, who knows the Legionaries and who can be of assistance to the General Council on juridical and other matters if necessary.  It should be noted that this person will be an Assistant, not a Visitator or a Commissioner or a Delegate.  The Assistant has no voice or vote; he or she is only a councilor.  The choice of this person was already considered prior to the General Chapter.

The General Administrator of the Legionaries went to the Congregation following the Chapter to meet with the Prefect and the Secretary.  On that occasion, the Director General manifested the desire to receive the Prefect and the Secretary of the Dicastery at his Administrative offices.  This was the reason for which on July 3 of this year, Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz and Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo will visit the Legionaries.