The first days leading up to the 2026 General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ have been marked by an atmosphere of prayer, discernment, and fraternity.

Before formally beginning the sessions of the General Chapter, the chapter fathers spent eight days participating in Ignatian spiritual exercises, preached by Monsignor Brian Farrell, LC, secretary emeritus of the Dicastery for Christian Unity. The exercises were an opportunity to renew themselves in faith, love, and conformity to Christ. Throughout this time, they delved deeply into the Principle and Foundation, the life of grace and sin, and various moments in the public life of the Lord, all illuminated by the Creed as the guiding thread of meditation. It was an encounter with Jesus Christ, who invited each one to review their life in the light of the Gospel and to rekindle the desire to be credible witnesses of the faith in today’s world.

On Tuesday, January 20, the celebration of Holy Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Rome officially marked the opening of the General Chapter. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. John Connor, L.C., acting general director, who preached the homily.

In it, Fr. John emphasized that this Chapter is not simply an exercise in governance, but an act of faith. “We have not come just to talk, we have come to offer ourselves to God,” he said. He invited everyone to live these days as an opportunity for the Lord to “pour out his Spirit” on the congregation and renew its mission. Quoting the prophet Joel, he recalled that this is a time of comfort, hope, and openness to the new things God wants to do in the Legion.

He also insisted on the importance of coming to the Chapter with an open and fraternal heart: “We do not come with fixed conclusions, we come with hearts open to listen and do what God wants for the Legion and for each one of us.”

Afterwards, the capitular fathers gathered to officially begin the Chapter, with a roll call and the signing of the decree by the director general. This 2026 event is being held with the purpose of taking stock of the tasks and responsibilities that the 2020 General Chapter assigned to the General Government during the last six years. It will also examine the current challenges of its evangelizing mission within the Catholic Church and appoint the members of the General Government who will lead the Congregation’s priorities for the next six years.

Of interest | All about the 2026 General Chapter

What is a General Chapter?

The General Chapter is the highest governing body of the Legionaries of Christ. It is held every six years and has the following objectives:

• To evaluate the current state of the congregation,
• To propose guidelines for its development,
• To elect the new Director General and his counselors,
• And to strengthen the identity and common mission of the congregation.
• Beyond being an organizational assembly, the Chapter is experienced as a communal act of discernment, communion, and renewal in the Spirit.

In the 2026 edition, the Legionaries reflect on fundamental issues for the present and future of the congregation, such as:

• Formation in Legionary identity,
• Priestly and religious life,
• Vocational promotion,
• And the apostolic mission in the current context.

This General Chapter brings together 60 Legionary priests with voting rights, of whom 21 participate by right (ex officio) and 39 have been elected by their territories to represent the global life and mission of the congregation. 

Among the chapter fathers are also religious with advanced training: several have higher academic degrees, including a significant number of doctors in theology, spirituality, philosophy, or canon law, bringing a high level of theological and pastoral reflection to the Chapter’s discussions.

In addition, many have served in different areas of Legionary life and mission: some in territorial governments or in the formation of future priests, others in educational works, in pastoral accompaniment with Regnum Christi, or in the service of ecclesiastical tribunals, reflecting the complexity and richness of experiences in the service of the Church.

The General Chapter will continue to unfold in a spirit of prayer, dialogue, and community listening. In the coming days, deliberations will also take place on the new general government.

This General Chapter is being lived in spiritual communion with the General Assembly of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, who have dedicated their first days in Rome to prayer, reflection, and dialogue under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and with the General Assembly of the Consecrated Lay Men, which will begin on January 25. The proximity of these meetings reinforces the communion of Regnum Christi and the conviction that we are called to serve the Church as a spiritual family and apostolic body.

We ask the entire spiritual family of Regnum Christi to accompany us with their prayers during this time of grace, so that the Lord may guide us on this path according to his will.

General Chapter 2026 Statistics

Total number of capitulants: 60

Countries represented: 14

Most common nationalities: Mexico (20), Spain (11), USA (9), Germany (3), Colombia (3), Chile (3), Italy (4), Venezuela (2), France, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, Nicaragua.

Ages

• Average age: 54 years old
• Youngest: Born in 1989 (36 years old)
• Oldest: Born in 1951 (74 years old)
• Capitulars under 40 years old: 6
• Capitulars over 70 years old: 4

Years of priestly ordination

• Most recent ordination: Ordained in 2022
• Oldest ordination: Ordained in 1983
• Average years of priesthood: 23 years
• Priests with more than 30 years of ordination: 16
• Priests with less than 10 years of ordination: 8

Academic background

• Doctorates: 12
• Philosophy, Theology, Humanities, Bioethics, Canon Law
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology: more than 50
• Notable civil studies:
• Industrial Engineering (Stanford)
• Business Administration (Anáhuac)
• Actuarial Science (Anáhuac)
• Economics (Anáhuac)
• History (Stanford)
• Classical Humanities
• Bioethics

Current areas of ministry

• Territorial and general government: 27
• Education (schools and universities): 9
• Pastoral ministry with Regnum Christi: 15
• Priestly formation (novitiate, theology school, student center): 7
• Apostolate in parishes: 3
• Ecclesiastical tribunals or secure environments: 4
• Rectories or academic administrations: 5

All information is available on the General Chapter 2026 website.

We invite you to view the image gallery, which will be updated daily.