Regnum Christi

The Regnum Christi Federation (Latin: Regnum Christi Foederationis) is an international Catholic organization founded by Marcial Maciel in 1959. It is made up of the religious congregation known as the Legionaries of Christ, a lay Catholic division, and two societies of apostolic life: the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi and the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi. Maciel led the federation until 2005, when controversies began to emerge over cult-like tendencies within the federation. In 2006, Maciel was investigated by the Holy See and suspended from his ministry, initially over breaches of celibacy, and following public revelations later confirmed as sustained, over sexual abuse of minors. After Maciel's death, and following more revelations, Pope Benedict XVI ordered an apostolic visitation of the Legion of Christ 2009. The investigation and reform of the Legionaries of Christ led to a reevaluation of the statutes of Regnum Christi that were written in 2004, and a deep reflection on the nature of Regnum Christi as a whole. Members from all states in life participated in that reflection, as individuals and in groups, under the guidance of officials from the Holy See. The new statutes of the Regnum Christi Federation were approved by the Holy See on May 31, 2019.