The Vatican appoints pontifical delegates for the Institute of the Incarnate Word and its female branch

The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has appointed two pontifical delegates, “in agreement with the Holy Father Francis”, for the Institute of the Incarnate Word and its female branch, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará .

The announcement was made through a press release dated January 10, signed by the new prefect of the Dicastery, Sister Simona Brambilla; and by the undersecretary, Father Aitor Jiménez Echave.

The Institute of the Incarnate Word and the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará are two institutions of diocesan law founded by Father Carlos Buela in the Diocese of San Rafael (Argentina) and with their main headquarters in the Diocese of Velletri-Segni ( Italy).

In this regard, a decree of December 8, 2024 (not officially public) includes the report of the visitor Clara Echarte, who revealed “the great missionary drive of the Institute and the commendable personal commitment of many of its members.”

However, there also emerged “a serious deficiency in regard to vocational discernment, the formation of candidates and religious, the great inexperience and too small number of formators, lifestyle, government service, entrusted to inexperienced religious, sometimes not yet definitively incorporated, and the apostolate.”

Furthermore, the text of December 8 continues, “despite the repeated and serious measures adopted by the Apostolic See—administrative and penal—that over the years have recognized the founder, Father Carlos Buela, as guilty of the crimes of which he was accused… the founder continues to be presented as a priest unjustly persecuted by the Holy See, and the victims are considered false and insincere. The two Institutes (male and female) organize pilgrimages to his tomb and. His writings have been republished and disseminated.”

For all these reasons, the Dicastery, “with the intention of helping the Institute to make an effective change”, appoints Sister Echarte as pontifical delegate “with all the powers of government” and “with full power” to repeal its constitutions “if so.” deems appropriate and necessary.”

Finally, the Dicastery prohibits the female branch of the IVE from “accepting new candidates and admitting them to the novitiate for a period of three years.”

“These provisions,” the December document concludes, “were specifically approved by the Holy Father on December 3, 2024.”

Regarding the Institute of the Incarnate Word, the Dicastery has appointed as pontifical delegate Mons. José Antonio Satué Huerto, Bishop of Teruel and Albarracín (Spain).

It is worth remembering an event that occurred in April 2023, when the Pontifical Commissioner of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló, sent a letter to its members in which he expressed “some important concerns” and established a series of measures.

The letter of April 19, 2023 reached the members of the IVE four days before the death of the founder of the Institute, Father Carlos Miguel Buela, which occurred on Sunday, April 23.

The statement of this January 10 indicates that “since its foundation the Dicastery has always followed with particular attention and concern the events of the two Institutes.”

Likewise, he explains that “the decision (to name the pontifical delegates) was taken at the end of an Apostolic Visit to the Women’s Institute carried out by Sister Clara Echarte herself, together with some collaborators, and continued with the accompaniment of Cardinal Santos Abril y Castellò , Pontifical Commissioner of the Men’s Institute, to whom our heartfelt gratitude goes for the paternal service of recent years.”

The Dicastery states that the purpose of the appointments is “to accompany these two young institutions of consecrated life, particularly with regard to formation, religious discipline, apostolate and government.”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally Posted by ACI Press.