Legionaries of Christ expect papal delegate to be named before summer's end

Rome, Italy, May 17, 2010 / 11:59 am

The rector of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Father Pedro Barrajon, said this week that he expects the Holy See to name a pontifical delegate for the Legionaries of Christ before the end of the summer.

Speaking to reporters, the Legionary priest said, “We are in a waiting period in which we have not been told anything yet, but I think the delegate will come before the end of the summer.”

After the statement by the Holy See on May 1 which announced Pope Benedict’s intention to name a commissioner to assume control of the Legion of Christ, Vatican analyst Sandro Magister said the only name that has been floated as a possible candidate for the post is the current Archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez.

While the cardinal said he would accept whatever decision the Holy Father made, he said he did not consider himself the ideal candidate for the job and that a bishop with more knowledge of the religious life would be better suited.

A statement from the Archdiocese of Guadalajara on May 3 said Cardinal Sandoval “is at the disposal of what he (the Pope) decides at the appropriate time. The decision on naming a commissioner for the reconstruction of the Legion falls exclusively to the Supreme Pontiff.”