23 priests of the legionaries of Christ ordered in the Vatican

The Catholic Church prepares for a special celebration, especially significant in Latin America, with the ordination of 23 new priests of the legionaries of Christ in the Vatican. Of these, 16 come from Latin American countries.

The future priests come from a different variety of countries: 1 from Argentina, 3 of Colombia, 1 of El Salvador, 9 from Mexico, 2 of Venezuela, 1 of the United States, and 2 from Brazil. From Europe, 2 priests of Germany, 1 of Spain and 1 of France will be ordered.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 am (Rome time) in the Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros, chaired by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camarlengo of the Holy Roman Church.

This event will be broadcast live through YouTube In Italian, with simultaneous comments in Spanish and English.

Vocation testimonies

In a website Special dedicated to sharing information about the ordinations, the testimonies of future priests are reported. One of them is Camilo Palomino, a Colombian seminarian, who expressed about his vocation: “Jesus taught us that” there is no greater love than to give life for friends’, and that becomes a reality when giving our lives to him. ” He also stressed that God “does not let herself win in generosity”, affirming that he has lived this truth over and over again in his own life.

For his part, Adrián Olvera, a Mexican who will also be ordered in Rome, shared his vocational experience: “I can say with certainty that God always goes beyond what we imagine and surprises us in unexpected ways. It is only necessary to be willing to be surprised,” referring to what it means to become a legionary priest.

Growth vocation

According to the website, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, at the end of 2024, told With 1,309 members, of which 1,033 are priests. The growth of the congregation continues, because in 2023 it is They registered 1,017 priests, an increase of 24 with respect to the previous year.

Mexico is the country What more members contributes to the congregation, after the United States and Spain. The formative process of the Legionaries of Christ lasts 12 years before the priestly ordination.

Currently, the Congregation has a stable presence in 23 countries, organized in 9 territories and 2 delegations. In addition, it has a community of students in Rome, an international pontifical seminar in the same city and an interdiocesan seminar and theological institute in São Paulo (Brazil).