Pope Calls For Apostolic Visitation of Legionaries of Christ

Pope Benedict XVI has requested an Apostolic Visitation of the institutions of the Legionaries that will likely begin after Easter.

WASHINGTON (Catholic Online) - In a letter to Reverend Alvaro Corcuera, L.C., General Director of the Legionaries of Christ, the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone announced that Pope Benedict XVI has requested an Apostolic Visitation of the institutions of the Legionaries that will likely begin after Easter.

In a letter dated March 10, Cardinal Bertone stated, "In this holy season of Lent, a time of grace and salvation, I am pleased to remember that many people benefit from the works of education and service which the Legionaries of Christ carry out in various parts of the world.

"The Holy Father is aware of the noble ideals that inspire you and the fortitude and prayerful spirit with which you are facing the current changes," he continued. "He encourages you to continue seeking the good of the Church and society by means of your own distinctive initiatives and institutions.

"In this regard, you can always count on the help of the Holy See, so that with truth and transparency, in a climate of fraternal and constructive dialogue, you will overcome the present difficulties.

"In this respect, the Holy Father has decided to carry out an Apostolic Visitation to the institutions of the Legionaries of Christ through a team of Prelates."

The visitation comes as a means for the Church to assist in assessing any problems within the Legionaries as well as provide pastoral guidance in the process. The order has been plagued with scandals tied to their founder, Father Marcial Maciel, who died last year at the age of 87.

In 2006, Pope Benedict told Maciel to retire to a life of "prayer and penitence" after accusations were raised that he had molested boy and men seminarians decades earlier.

Other rumors regarding the order had also been circulating for several years and raising even more concern.

Their problems climaxed last month with the revelation that Maciel had, indeed, been living a double life for decades. While leading an order of priests who take vows of celibacy, he had a maintained a long-time relationship with a mistress and had fathered at least one child.

The visitation was made public this week through a letter.In his communication with the apostolate, Father Corcuera wrote, ""I have thanked the Holy Father from the bottom of my heart for offering us this additional assistance in facing our present vicissitudes related to the grave details of our father founder's life. We are deeply saddened and sorry, and we sincerely ask for forgiveness from God and from those who have been hurt because of this."

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"We are now preparing to receive the Apostolic Visitors," he continued, "who, over the upcoming months, will visit to familiarize themselves closely with the life and apostolate of the Legion of Christ."

An apostolic visitation is type of internal church investigation. Ordered by the pope, who sets the limits and powers of the visitation, it is executed by a group delegated with the task, which includes a report submitted to the Holy See.

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