Pope Leo XIV Tells Legionaries Authority in Religious Life Is Service, Not Domination
Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Legionaries of Christ gathered for their General Chapter and reminded them that authority within religious life must always be exercised as service rather than control. Addressing the congregation at the Vatican, the Pope emphasized that governance in the Church is meant to animate community life centered on Christ and safeguard the dignity and freedom of each person.
In his remarks, Pope Leo XIV stated that authority in religious communities is not understood as domination. Instead, it is a spiritual and fraternal service shared among those who have embraced the same vocation. He described leadership as an art of accompaniment, calling superiors to approach others with reverence and humility, recognizing the sacred dimension of each person’s journey.
The Legionaries of Christ, founded in Mexico in 1941, have faced a complex and painful history. Their founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado, was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2006 following investigations into allegations of sexual abuse. After he died in 2008, further revelations confirmed that he had committed grave abuses over several decades. In 2010, the Holy See formally acknowledged the seriousness of his actions and initiated a process of reform and renewal within the congregation.
Pope Leo XIV acknowledged that the Legionaries are heirs to a charism that has developed through historical experiences, including moments of crisis and suffering. He encouraged members to remember that renewal requires honesty about the past while remaining faithful to the Gospel in the present. The General Chapter, he said, is a privileged time for communal discernment and attentive listening to the Holy Spirit.
The Pope reminded the Legionaries that a charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit entrusted to the Church. Religious institutes are not owners of that gift but its custodians and servants. Their responsibility is to ensure that the charism continues to bear fruit for the good of the wider ecclesial community. Such stewardship, he explained, demands prayer, humility and interior freedom.
Emphasizing co responsibility and transparency, Pope Leo XIV urged leaders to foster environments marked by mutual listening and shared discernment. Governance should reflect subsidiarity and encourage responsible participation by all members. The unity of the community, he added, is not achieved by suppressing differences but by harmonizing them through dialogue and trust.
He cautioned against pursuing personal or regional interests or reducing challenges to purely organizational solutions. Instead, he encouraged the Legionaries to seek the will of God for their religious family and the mission entrusted to them by the Church. By grounding authority in service and fraternity, the Pope presented a vision of leadership that strengthens credibility and supports authentic renewal within religious life.
