Pope Leo XIV Tells Legionaries of Christ That Authority Must Be Service
Pope Leo XIV met with participants in the General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ at the Vatican, urging them to renew their commitment to a model of authority rooted in service rather than domination. Addressing the religious congregation founded in Mexico in 1941, the Holy Father emphasized that leadership within religious life must always safeguard human dignity and foster unity centered on Christ.
General Chapters, the Pope noted, represent privileged moments for religious institutes to listen to the Holy Spirit and engage in communal discernment. Such gatherings are not merely administrative events but spiritual opportunities to reflect on identity, mission, and governance in light of the Gospel. Through shared prayer and dialogue, religious communities are called to discern how best to respond to contemporary challenges while remaining faithful to their founding charism.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged that the Legionaries of Christ have experienced painful chapters in their history, including scandals that deeply affected members and the wider Church. At the same time, he affirmed that their charism remains a gift of the Holy Spirit entrusted to them for the good of the Church and for the broader spiritual family of Regnum Christi. He encouraged the congregation to continue seeking renewal and purification, recognizing that fidelity requires ongoing conversion.
A charism, the Pope explained, is not a possession to be controlled but a grace to be received and lived. Religious institutes and their members are called to embody this gift personally and communally. By deepening their identity, they find their proper place within both the Church and society. He reminded the Legionaries that they are custodians and servants of their charism, entrusted with ensuring that it bears fruit for future generations.
Central to his address was the theme of authority. Pope Leo XIV stated clearly that authority in religious life is not a form of power exercised over others. Instead, it is a spiritual and fraternal service aimed at building communion and guiding members toward Christ. Leadership, he said, must avoid every form of control that disregards personal dignity or freedom. True authority is expressed through accompaniment, listening, and shared responsibility.
The Pope highlighted qualities that should characterize governance in religious communities, including transparency, mutual listening, and subsidiarity. He stressed that missionary unity does not mean uniformity or the suppression of differences. Rather, diversity should be harmonized through dialogue and discernment so that the community can act with coherence and shared purpose.
He also called leaders to interior freedom, warning against narrow regional or particular interests that could fragment the congregation. Authentic communal discernment, he said, requires humility, honesty, and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Concluding his remarks, Pope Leo XIV encouraged the Legionaries of Christ to see their General Chapter as a moment of hope and renewal. The Church’s mission continues, he said, and religious communities are called to respond faithfully to the present circumstances entrusted to them.
