On May 31, 2019, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life approved the Statutes of Regnum Christi and canonically established the Regnum Christi Federation. This canonical recognition and the initial approval of the Statutes were the fruit of a process of renewal initiated in 2010 which sought to clearly express the unity of the charism shared by the Legionaries of Christ, the Consecrated Women, the Lay Consecrated Men and the lay members.
The Holy See granted the Statutes an initial approval ad experimentum, validating them and granting a period of five years to allow for the practical experience of what was established. This time has been key in implementing the structures of the Federation and maturing in the experience of the shared charism and mission while growing in unity and collaboration.
In this context, the General Convention of Regnum Christi, held in 2024, took up the resolution to request the definitive approval of the Statutes by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The resolution had the unanimous favorable opinion of the lay members and the qualified majority of the consecrated delegates.
With great joy and gratitude, the General Directive College communicated through a letter to the members that the Holy See has definitively approved the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation. This official recognition reaffirms the validity of the path traveled and strengthens the commitment to live our charism with confidence and courage, in communion with the Church and at the service of the mission.
The General Directive College expressed its gratitude and stressed the importance of the Statutes as “light and criterion for discernment” regarding the identity and action of all those who are part of Regnum Christi. They also underlined the call to continue growing in the knowledge, understanding, and affective and effective integration with the Statutes, since “we find the principal traits of our charism, spirituality, and apostolic mission formulated in them. ”
In the context of the Jubilee of Hope that the Church celebrates in 2025, this step invites us to move forward with confidence, knowing that, united in him, we are still called to be witnesses and apostles of Christ in the world.
Un-official English translation of the letter from the General Directive College follows below
February 5, 2025
DG-FRC 0030-2025
Clas. II.3.A.11
To all members of Regnum Christi
Dear friends,
It is with great joy that we would like to share some important news with you: the Holy See has definitively approved the Statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation. In the letter accompanying the decree of approval, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life expresses the hope that “the Statutes will help them to promote the common charism and to foster collaboration in view of the mission entrusted to them by the Church.”
As you may recall, the Holy See established the Regnum Christi Federation on May 31, 2019 and also approved the Statutes of the Federation “ad experimentum (on a trial basis for five years” at that time. At the end of this five-year period, the 2024 Regnum Christi General Convention evaluated the implementation and living of the Statutes up until that point, confirming that they adequately express our charism and the functioning of the Federation and do not require modifications at this time. The resolution adopted by the General Convention was submitted to the Holy See, requesting final approval of the Statutes. The Holy See examined this request and with the response (rescript) of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on December 16, 2024, granted final approval of the text of the Statutes.
This approval represents a recognition by the Holy See that gives solidity and stability to the Federation. At the same time, the future General Conventions of the Federation will have to evaluate the experience of the Statutes and will be able to make any necessary modifications and submit them for ratification by the federated institutions, and for approval by the Holy See (cf. SRCF 67.4º).
Let us thank the Lord for the definitive approval of the Statutes and ask him for his grace to live our mission faithfully and to guard the gift of our charism. In this way we will respond to ” need for all of us to continue to know and comprehend them better and grow in our affective and effective integration with their content”. We invite you to read the Statutes, and to reflect on them in prayer, ” in order to grow in their assimilation, since we find the principal traits of our charism, spirituality, and apostolic mission formulated in them. The Statutes are a light and criterion of discernment for our identity and action” (Communiqué of the First General Convention of the Regnum Christi Federation, 31.1).
With hearts full of hope, let us continue to advance together in the mission that God has entrusted to us, certain that “His open heart has gone before us” (Encyclical Dilexit Nos, 1).
Assuring you of our prayers,
The General Directive College of Regnum Christi
Link to Spanish original article
Photos from the First General Convention of the Regnum Christi Federation
