The statistics of the Congregation are calculated based on the information provided by the territories. For statistical purposes, the Delegation of the houses in Rome and the Delegation for Holy Land are counted as a single territory.

At the end of 2020, the Legionaries of Christ are stably present in 21 countries. They are organized into 9 territories and 2 delegations. They have 10 headquarters of general or territorial government, 88 apostolic communities, a philosophical institute, 2 theological institutes, a community of priest students in Rome, a humanities center in the United States, 6 novitiates, and 9 vocational centers.

They also have an International Pontifical Seminary in Rome and an Interdiocesan Seminary and Theological Institute in São Paulo, Brazil.

The year 2020 concludes with 1,432 Legionaries of Christ: 4 bishops (no change), 975 priests (+5 compared to the previous year), 357 religious in formation (-33), and 96 novices (+5). The variation from the previous year is -2% in members.

Among the 975 priests in 2020, 27 were ordained; 10 priests are exclaustrated according to c. 686 of the Code of Canon Law; and 22 priests live temporarily outside community due to work, studies, or health reasons, according to c. 665 § 1. This statistic also includes 6 priests who are in irregular situations.

During 2020, 5 priests passed away. In the same period, 7 priests were incardinated into a diocese, and 9 requested dispensation from the obligations related to Holy Orders.

Regarding the Legionaries in initial formation, this year 56 novices entered; 31 brothers made their first profession of the evangelical counsels; 29 made their perpetual profession. By the end of the year, the Legionaries of Christ in initial formation include 116 religious with perpetual vows, 241 with temporary vows, 96 novices, and 29 deacons. Compared to the previous year, there was a 5% increase in new novices, a -16% decrease in first professions, and the same number of perpetual professions.

In the same period, 20 young men discerned in the novitiate that religious life in the Legionaries of Christ was not their path.

In 2020, 3 religious with perpetual vows requested and obtained dispensation from the Holy See; 24 religious with temporary vows requested and obtained dispensation from their vows from the general director; and 11 decided not to renew them at the end of the period for which they had been made.

The average age of the priests is 50 years, and the average age of the entire Congregation is 42 years.

During 2020, the total number of minor seminarians was 351.

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Table 1
Number of members and comparison with the previous year

 

Table 2
Demographics of the Legion of Christ between December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2020

 

Table 3
Members by country of origin

 

Table 4
Distribution of Legionaries of Christ across different territories

• For statistical purposes, bishops are registered in the territory where they reside, although they are not under the authority of the territorial director.

Table 5
Legionaries of Christ by age groups

 

Graph 1
Distribution of Legionaries by age groups

Graph 2
Members of the Legion of Christ by stage of formation (2015-2020)

Graph 3
Distribution of houses worldwide

• This graph reflects the countries where Legionaries’ communities are located, shaping the geography of the congregation.
• The number of houses in each country is specified in parentheses.