In full environment prior to the conclave, with an eye on the election of the new Pope, the Catholic Church lived a moment of deep hope with the priestly ordination of 23 legionaries of Christ, held in the Basilica of St. Paul Extramuros, one of the four great papal basilicas of Rome.
The ceremony, which was initially going to be chaired by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camarlengo of the Catholic Church, was delegated to Mons. Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas, Mexican bishop of the diocese of Cancun-butumal, because Cardinal Farrell is performing the functions of his position in these crucial moments for the Church.
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A church in full renewal
In his homily, Mons. Elizondo Cárdenas highlighted the urgent need for priests “who know how to get out of themselves, their comfort and comfort zone. He needs priests, not installed or accommodated.”
In addition, he stressed that the Catholic Church is in full renewal and requires priests that are “jealous and entrenched, brave, not accommodated, or seated, that they know how to undertake, have activity and initiative, that they know how to give everything for the mission” ..
Therefore, he invited the new Legionary Priests to give their lives to prayer, reminding them that “the vocation is born in prayer, mature in prayer and bear fruit in prayer.”
The priests come from several countries: 1 from Argentina, 3 of Colombia, 1 of El Salvador, 9 from Mexico, 2 of Venezuela, 1 of the United States, and 2 of Brazil. From Europe, 2 from Germany, 1 of Spain and 1 of France were ordered.
Increased vocations
This day also marked a significant milestone for the legionaries of Christ. According to the website, the Congregation, at the end of 2024 had 1,309 members, of which 1,033 are priests, 24 More than in 2023.
Mexico is the country that 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, and is 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 the Theological Institute in São Paulo (Brazil).
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.