The Legionaries of Christ open their 2026 General Chapter in Rome, charting spiritual and apostolic priorities for their mission through 2032.
Newsroom (23/01/2026 Gaudium Press ) On January 20, 2026, the Legionaries of Christ inaugurated their General Chapter in Rome, launching what is set to be a pivotal six-year period for the Catholic congregation. The assembly, held every six years according to constitutions approved by the Holy See in 2014, will define the leadership, spiritual priorities, and apostolic strategy of the order until 2032.
The Chapter represents the congregation’s highest governing body, bringing together representatives from across the world to discern its direction. Over the coming weeks, members will reflect on the order’s recent history, elect new leadership, and set priorities to guide the Legionaries’ mission in a changing global Church.
A Spiritual Beginning Before Governance
Before the official opening, the chapter fathers participated in an eight-day retreat led by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. His meditations invited participants to approach their work with a spirit of renewal and openness to God’s will—a theme that would carry into the inauguration ceremony.
The General Chapter began with a Eucharist at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Rome, presided over by Father John Connor, the acting director general. In his homily, Connor reframed the Chapter not as a procedural gathering but as a theological act—a moment of offering before God. Drawing from the prophet Joel, he called for hope, inner freedom, and listening to the promptings of the Spirit.
Following the Mass, participants invoked the Holy Spirit, verified attendance, and formally signed the decree constituting the assembly. From that moment, the regular work of the Chapter began.
Reviewing Stewardship and Mission
One priority of this session will be a close review of the past six years of leadership under Father Connor. His report, guided by the strategic document Apostles According to the Heart of Christ, will assess progress made since the 2020 General Chapter and identify steps needed to deepen the order’s renewal.
Among the areas highlighted are the consolidation of the Legionaries’ identity within the Regnum Christi federation, the strengthening of vocational accompaniment, and the continued development of Safe Environment programs. Each represents not only an internal priority but a response to broader challenges facing the Church’s evangelizing mission today.
The General Chapter will also evaluate the mandates issued in 2020 and examine new global and ecclesial contexts that affect the congregation’s work. These discussions will culminate in electing a new superior general, his council, and the general administrator—leadership that will guide the order into the next decade.
Preparation and Global Representation
The 2026 assembly is the result of an extensive, year-long preparation process. Throughout 2025, all Legionary communities engaged in communal reflection and territorial assemblies, studying materials prepared by a special commission. These sessions addressed topics such as the congregation’s identity, the contemporary religious landscape, and new strategies for evangelization.
From this preparation emerges a diverse body of 60 priests representing the congregation’s international breadth. Twenty-one participate by virtue of their positions, while 39 were elected by their territories. The delegates come from 14 countries, with notable representation from Mexico, Spain, and the United States. The group spans generations—ages range from 36 to 74—and includes a balance of long-serving and recently ordained priests.
Academic and Ministerial Depth
The assembly’s intellectual profile reflects the congregation’s long-standing emphasis on education and formation. Twelve members hold doctorates in disciplines from theology to bioethics, and over fifty possess graduate degrees in philosophy or theology. Others bring expertise from civil fields such as business administration, engineering, economics, and history—credentials from universities like Stanford and Anáhuac.
Their current ministries are equally diverse. Some serve in leadership roles at the territorial or general level, others in Regnum Christi apostolates, academic institutions, or priestly formation. This range underscores the global scope of the Legionaries’ mission—from classrooms to parishes to Church governance.
Part of a Wider Regnum Christi Renewal
The General Chapter coincides with other key assemblies within the Regnum Christi federation. In Rome, the consecrated women’s General Assembly is ongoing, and the assembly of consecrated lay members begins on January 25. Together, these parallel processes reflect the federation’s shared goal: a renewed, unified witness within the Catholic Church.
The new General Government, once elected, will face the challenge of fostering collaboration among all branches of Regnum Christi—priests, consecrated women, and lay members—ensuring the federation continues to act as a single spiritual and apostolic family.
Leadership Rooted in Prayer and Discernment
Though the election of the new General Government will soon come into focus, the tone set in the opening days remains unmistakable: this is a chapter rooted in prayer, guided by discernment, and shaped by fraternity. As Father Connor reminded participants, the strength of the Legionaries’ future depends less on strategy than on spiritual openness—to listen, to discern, and to act in unity with the needs of the Church and the world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatholica
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