On January 20, at the Congregation’s headquarters in Rome, the General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ will begin to evaluate its action and administration, analyze the challenges of its evangelizing mission, and elect the new General Government that will lead the Congregation’s priorities for the next six years.
With a spirit of discernment and communion, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is preparing to experience a key moment in its history: the General Chapter that will begin on January 20 in Rome.
This Chapter, composed of 60 priests from all territories, will be held with the purpose of:
- assessing the state of the Congregation — above all from the reports of the general director and the territorial directors — and examine the most important matters proposed by the territorial assemblies or by individual members of the Congregation.
- electing the general director, the general councilors and the general administrator.
- adopting the most opportune measures to safeguard the spirit of the Congregation, foster its development and appropriate renewal, promote the mission, engage the challenges and deal with the most important problems.
- if pertinent, make necessary modifications to the Constitutions, which have to be presented to the Holy See for approval; modify or approve the secondary codes of proper law that fall under the jurisdiction of the general chapter; and issue directives in chapter decrees.
In addition, it will evaluate the execution of the tasks and responsibilities that the General Chapter of 2020 outlined for the General Government during the last six years.
Institutional and legal framework
According to Canon Law, the General Chapter is the supreme governing body of a religious congregation. In the case of the Legionaries of Christ, this assembly is convened every six years, in accordance with the Constitutions approved by the Holy See in 2014.
Given its consultative and normative nature, the resolutions that come from the Chapter will have a direct impact on the life and work of all members of the Congregation worldwide.
Assessment of the past six years
During the General Chapter, Fr. John Connor, LC, will present the results of his work as Director General. His term has been guided by the strategic document “Apostles According to the Heart of Christ,” which is based on the guidelines issued by the 2020 General Chapter. The central objective has been to consolidate the identity of the Legionary religious in communion with Regnum Christi , promoting apostolate based on the personal experience of God’s love. Two key priorities were added to these lines of action: vocational accompaniment and strengthening the Safe Environment program.
Election of the new government
In addition to reports from the different territories that will help the Chapter assess the signs of the times, elections will be held to appoint the next general director, his council, and the general administrator. The new general government will foster collaboration with consecrated women and lay consecrated men , who will also meet in Rome to renew their governing bodies.
Challenges and obstacles
When the Chapter opens, it elects a Central Commission that determines the agenda of topics to be addressed and the work schedule to be followed.
To prepare for this moment, throughout 2025 a special commission tasked with preparing for the Chapter sent various study and reflection materials to all Legionary communities. These resources aimed to promote personal and communal discernment on the most relevant topics addressed in the territorial assemblies prior to the Chapter: the context of the modern world, Legionary identity, religious life in the Congregation, vocational matters, and the apostolic mission.
The participation of all Legionaries was one of the central objectives of this preparatory stage, so that the General Chapter may be a true experience of renewal, unity, and missionary orientation for the future.
The Legionaries hope that this chapter will be a moment of grace, conversion, and missionary renewal in the heart of the Church.
Participants
In total, 60 Legionary of Christ priests will attend the Chapter with voice and vote, of which 21 participate ex-officioand 39 by election in each of the territories where the Legion has a permanent presence.
Official information website
The official website for the North American Territory is is https://legionariesofchrist.org/general-chapter-2026/ . There you will find regular updates, photos, videos, and official announcements.
Other links of interest
History of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ
Government of the Congregation
Territories and delegations where the Legion has a presence
What is a General Chapter : definition and organization
History of the General Chapters
Official social media accounts
Instagram: @legionariesofchrist
Facebook: LegionofChrist
For more information, you can contact:
Juan Camilo Díaz B.
International Director of Communications
+39 3289872615
Kerrie Rivard
North American Director of Communications
+1 678-896-8726
