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Surely 2010 has been a year of changes and challenges for the newly-appointed Italian Cardinal Velasio De Paolis. On July 9, 2010, Benedict XVI named Archbishop de Paolis as his Pontifical Delegate to take under his authority the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ. And at the end of the year, De Paolis was created a cardinal by the Pope in the consistory of 20 November.
And this is in addition to his ordinary duties which has meant, since 2008, to oversee the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, the body overseeing all the Church’s finances.
De Paolis is a kind, scholarly man. But beneath his kindly exterior, he has a streak of iron toughness.
De Paolis is a kind, scholarly man. But beneath his kindly exterior, he has a streak of iron toughness.
He showed this toughness two years ago when he refused to allow the film adaption of Dan Brown’s novel Angels & Demons to be filmed at churches in Rome. Brown had “turned the Gospels upside down to poison the faith,” De Paolis said at the time. “It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into films in the name of business.” He will need this toughness in dealing with the renewal of the Legionaries of Christ.
De Paolis was born in Sonnino, Italy, not far from Rome, on September 19, 1935. He is now 75. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961 at the age of 26. He completed his studies in Rome, receiving his doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University and a civil law degree from La Sapienza University in Rome.
From 1971 on he taught canon law at the Gregorian and from 1987 also at the Pontifical Urban University. In 2003, he was named Secretary of the Apostolic Signatura by John Paul II and one year later received his episcopal consecration. On April 12, 2008, Benedict XVI named him president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, raising him to the dignity of archbishop.
He has authored many books and articles and is a member of various associations dedicated to the study of canon law.
In the book Light of the World by the German journalist Peter Seewald, Benedict XVI lamented that the Vatican acted “slowly and late” in the scandal surrounding the Legionaries of Christ but said that the order deserves to continue its work.
De Paolis was born in Sonnino, Italy, not far from Rome, on September 19, 1935. He is now 75. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1961 at the age of 26. He completed his studies in Rome, receiving his doctorate in canon law from the Gregorian University and a civil law degree from La Sapienza University in Rome.
From 1971 on he taught canon law at the Gregorian and from 1987 also at the Pontifical Urban University. In 2003, he was named Secretary of the Apostolic Signatura by John Paul II and one year later received his episcopal consecration. On April 12, 2008, Benedict XVI named him president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, raising him to the dignity of archbishop.
He has authored many books and articles and is a member of various associations dedicated to the study of canon law.
In the book Light of the World by the German journalist Peter Seewald, Benedict XVI lamented that the Vatican acted “slowly and late” in the scandal surrounding the Legionaries of Christ but said that the order deserves to continue its work.
“(Father) Maciel remains a mysterious figure,” Benedict said, “There is, on the one hand, a life that, as we now know, was out of moral bounds — an adventurous, wasted, twisted life. On the other hand, we see the dynamism and the strength with which he built up the congregation of Legionaries. Naturally corrections must be made, but by and large the congregation is sound. In it there are many young men who enthusiastically want to serve the faith. This enthusiasm must not be destroyed. Many of them have been called by a false figure to what is, in the end, right after all.”
In mid-September, two months after his nomination as Pontifical Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, De Paolis discussed with Father Luis Garza, considered the most astute financial mind in the Legion, possible changes in the number of offices Garza holds: territorial director for Italy, supervisor of consecrated virgins of the movement Regnum Christi, general prefect of studies, and head of the financial holding company, Integer.
In mid-September, two months after his nomination as Pontifical Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, De Paolis discussed with Father Luis Garza, considered the most astute financial mind in the Legion, possible changes in the number of offices Garza holds: territorial director for Italy, supervisor of consecrated virgins of the movement Regnum Christi, general prefect of studies, and head of the financial holding company, Integer.
In October, De Paolis suggested that the Legion should redefine its mission and its governing structure. He said he and four advisers would work with Legion officials to revise the congregation’s constitution. De Paolis outlined the reform process in a letter sent to Legionaries on October 19, the day before his nomination as a cardinal.
De Paolis said members must not allow the failings of the order’s founder, the late Mexican Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, to be seen as representative of the Legion itself.
De Paolis said members must not allow the failings of the order’s founder, the late Mexican Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, to be seen as representative of the Legion itself.
“If today’s society is to be Christianized, it needs people formed in schools and universities,” he said. “I believe that the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ finds its place to serve the Church precisely in this area. And this brings good hope for the future.”
Italian journalist Sandro Magister says that De Paolis, now that he is a cardinal, will have more authority in implementing the mandate he has received from Benedict XVI to oversee renewal of the Legion following revelations of grave abuses by its charismatic founder, Father Marcial Maciel.
In November, the Legionaries of Christ announced three key decisions taken by De Paolis. First, the Legion has expanded the general council to seven members instead of five. Second, Father Alvaro Corcuera, the general director of the Legion, has appointed Father Oscar Nader as the new territorial director for Italy, a post previously occupied by Father Garza. Third, Father Corcuera has appointed Father José Enrique Oyarzún the new general dean of studies, a post also previously held by Garza.
Italian journalist Sandro Magister says that De Paolis, now that he is a cardinal, will have more authority in implementing the mandate he has received from Benedict XVI to oversee renewal of the Legion following revelations of grave abuses by its charismatic founder, Father Marcial Maciel.
In November, the Legionaries of Christ announced three key decisions taken by De Paolis. First, the Legion has expanded the general council to seven members instead of five. Second, Father Alvaro Corcuera, the general director of the Legion, has appointed Father Oscar Nader as the new territorial director for Italy, a post previously occupied by Father Garza. Third, Father Corcuera has appointed Father José Enrique Oyarzún the new general dean of studies, a post also previously held by Garza.
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