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Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 1, 2020. (CNS photo/Reuters)
March 2, 2020
Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY -- Renewal is a continuous journey requiring humility, patience and prayer to discern God's will, Pope Francis told members of Regnum Christi and the Legionaries of Christ.
The communities' "journey of renewal is not over because a change in mentality in individuals and in an institution requires a lot of time for assimilation and, therefore, continuous conversion," he said in a written message.
A "return to the past would be dangerous and meaningless," he added.
The pope's written speech was delivered to leaders and delegates taking part in the general chapter of the Legionaries of Christ and the general assemblies of lay consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi.
The pope had been scheduled to meet with them Feb. 29 at the Vatican, but the meeting was canceled. Nursing a cold, the pope has been celebrating his daily morning Mass and holding smaller meetings, but he has not attended audiences with larger groups since Feb. 27.
Regnum Christi and the Legionaries of Christ had wrapped up their monthlong general assembly and a general chapter in Rome, which included elections of a new superior general and new general directors for the consecrated women's and consecrated men's branches of Regnum Christi.
"I hope that your new governments are aware that the journey of renewal is not over," the pope told them in his written text.
All members, including the "individual governments of the three federated institutes," must follow this path of renewal "with perseverance and patience" and maintain "a vision consistent with the will that the church has shown all these years with her closeness and all concrete means she has put at your disposal."
The pope specifically mentioned one of the main reasons for their need for renewal, that is, "The criminal behavior of your founder, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado."
"On the one hand, it cannot be denied that he was the 'historical' founder of the whole reality you represent, but, on the other hand, you cannot consider him an example of holiness to be imitated," the pope said.
Father Maciel made himself the "point of reference through an illusion he was able to create with his double life," the pope said.
Also, his many years leading with a "personal" form of governance, "had, to some degree, corrupted the charism the Holy Spirit had originally given to the church and this was reflected in its norms, as well as in the practice of government and obedience" and people's way of life.
With the assistance of the Vatican and under its oversight, the pope told them, "you have carried out with patience and willingness a demanding job to overcome tensions, even very strong ones, which sometimes came about. This prompted a further change in mentality because it required a new vision in the mutual relations between the diverse realities that make up Regnum Christi."
"I know well that it has not been easy because what we are most strongly attached to are our own ideas," and often what has been lacking is the detachment needed to be open to the Holy Spirit and to seek God's will, because "the good for the whole church and for each of us can only come from God's will," the pope wrote.
"There remains a vast area which must be the focus of continued discernment on your part," Pope Francis said. "Therefore, the journey must continue, looking forward, not backward. You can only look back for discovering trust in God's support, which has never been lacking."