This is the latest in a series of measures implemented during Francis’ pontificate to ADDRESS issues related to religious institutes founded by abusive priests, and to address governance in new ecclesial movements and religious communities.
Newsroom (8/03/25 17:30, Gaudium Press)) The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, whose Prefect is Sr. Simona Brambilla, has decreed the suppression of the clerical religious Institute of Diocesan Right Miles Christi (Christian Soldier).
‘This decision was specifically approved by Pope Francis on 6 February 2025,’ says an official communiqué, meaning before he was hospitalized for pneumonia last month.
The measure was taken just six weeks after the Vatican formally suppressed the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a religious community based in Peru.
The task of Monsignor Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva as Pontifical Commissioner has thus been completed and the dicastery has appointed Monsignor Mauricio Landra, auxiliary Bishop of Mercedes-Luján, as pontifical delegate for the execution of the suppression of the institute.
The communiqué bears Monsignor Landra’s signature.
Text of the communiqué:
‘On 19 February 2025, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life decreed the suppression of the clerical religious Institute of Diocesan Right, Miles Christi. This decision was specifically approved by Pope Francis on 6 February 2025.
Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva and I were appointed by the same Dicastery as pontifical delegates to carry out the suppression of the Institute. Today we notified the Institute of this decision.
Taking into account the delicacy and complexity of the situation, so that everything may be carried out with justice and charity, in order to implement the decision taken by the Holy See, we entrust ourselves this time to Mary, Mother of the Church.’
Buenos Aires, 6 March 2025.
Mgr. Mauricio Landra, Pontifical Delegate’.
Miles Christi
The Miles Christi religious institute was founded in 1994 in the archdiocese of La Plata (Argentina) with the motto ‘Certa bonum certamen fidei’ [Fight the good fight of faith] (1 Tim 6:12) and the aim of ‘sustaining, with God’s grace, the personal spiritual struggle and winning souls, so that Christ may reign not only in individuals, but also in society’. Their spirituality is inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Since their foundation, they have run several schools and parishes.
On their website, they state:
‘We have been informed that the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has decreed the suppression of the Miles Christi with the approval of Pope Francis.
This decree begins a one-year process, at the end of which the Dicastery will declare the suppression effective.
We are grateful for the prayers, support and kindness of so many people and ask that you continue to pray during this challenging and difficult time.
In union with the Pope and the Church, we will provide more information as it becomes available through this means.’
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
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