Velasio de Paolis
His Eminence Velasio de Paolis, Titular Bishop of Thélepte (2003–2010) | |
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Velasio de Paolis,
Early life
De Paolis was born in 1935 in
He completed his studies in Rome and received his doctorate in canon law from the
Curial service
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2021) |
On 30 December 2003, De Paolis was appointed Secretary of the
De Paolis was named President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See by Pope Benedict XVI on 12 April 2008, also being promoted to Titular Archbishop of Thelepte.[7] As President, he essentially served as the chief auditor for the Vatican.
Refusing to allow the film adaption of Dan Brown's novel Angels & Demons to be filmed at churches in Rome, De Paolis said that Brown had "turned the gospels upside down to poison the faith...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 also said that Brown's work "wounds common religious feelings."[8]
On 25 January 2010 he was appointed a member of the
He was created
Pope Benedict XVI accepted De Paolis' resignation as president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs on 21 September 2011.[10]
He was one of the
Pontifical Delegate for the Legionaries of Christ
On 9 July 2010, Pope Benedict appointed de Paolis as Pontifical Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ,[12] after the alleged abuses by its founder became public and were admitted by the congregation.
In October of the same year, De Paolis suggested that the Legion should redefine its mission and its governing structure. He acknowledged that questions remained about how much other Legion leaders knew about Maciel's abuses and that finding the truth is "not that simple". Plans were made for a renewal process that could take three years or more. He and four advisers would work with Legion officials to revise the congregation's constitution, and consideration was being given to appointing a committee to address complaints made against the Legion and a committee to address financial management issues in the congregation. The process would include an investigation, headed by Archbishop
On 20 October 2011, de Paolis disclosed, in a letter,[14] that an investigation of Regnum Christi uncovered concerns that would require rewriting the group's norms. Vatican officials expressed concern that the consecrated members of Regnum Christi were overly subject to the Legion; they called for their own structure of authority while keeping close ties to the Legion. De Paolis said that “the issues regarding personal and community life that have emerged from this same visitation on an institutional level initially appear to be many and challenging.” He indicated, however, that Regnum Christi would continue its affiliation with the Legion of Christ,[15] but that the lay group would be split from the Legion itself.
In a 21 November 2011 letter, de Paolis asked the consecrated in Regnum Christi to edit their core set of norms, and ruled inoperative a more extensive set of norms. The core set of norms (128 in number) were approved by the Vatican in 2004, not the more extensive ones (over 1,000 in number). He said a small commission would be formed soon to extract from the more extensive rules only those that are strictly necessary for their life and governance.[16]
In 2014 de Paolis said one of the "key points" in the redrafted constitution is a "clearer and more accurate distinction between the internal forum and the external forum, and between the sacramental forum and – let us say – the disciplinary, external forum." The reference seemed to indicate that the revised constitution would permit Legionaries to choose their own confessors, removing a requirement that they confess only to priests chosen by superiors. He said drafters of the new constitution had found it necessary to "reaffirm that authority is not arbitrary but must operate within a council."[17][18]
Handling
On 26 October 2011 it was reported that disillusioned members were leaving the order as they lose faith that the Vatican will push through the necessary changes. De Paolis said in an interview that Pope Benedict tasked him only with guiding the Legion and helping rewrite its norms – not "decapitating" its leadership or avenging wrongdoing. De Paolis ruled out any further investigation into the crimes of Marciel Maciel. He added, "I don't see what good would be served" by further inquiry into a coverup. "Rather, we would run the risk of finding ourselves in an intrigue with no end. Because these are things that are too private for me to go investigating." Reports estimate 70 of the 890 Legion priests and upwards of a third of the movement's 900 consecrated women have left or are taking time away to ponder their future. De Paolis defended his commitment and approach to the reform, saying he had "inserted" himself into the Legion's administration, expanded the Legion's governing council, and shuffled some superiors around. He said he hasn't dismissed any superiors outright because he needs them to learn the complex details of the order's structure, culture and finances. He said his priority was to persuade the Legion's leaders to sow change from within.[19]
Vatileaks scandal
In October 2012, de Paolis told the Italian newspaper
Death
He died in Rome on 9 September 2017,[21] 10 days short of his 82nd birthday.
References
- ^ "Nomina del Delegato Pontificio per la Congregazione dei Legionari di Cristo". Press Office of the Holy See. 9 July 2008. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ a b c "Rinunce e Nomine, 30.12.2003" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 30 December 2003. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- OCLC 53276621.
- ^ "World Meeting on the Pastoral Care of Migrants". Holy See.
- ^ "Velasio Cardinal De Paolis, C.S." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. 17 June 2008.
- ^ Palmo, Rocco (24 February 2006). "Tough Talk from Stato and Rino". Whispers in the Loggia.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.04.2008" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Owen, Richard (17 June 2008). "Vatican bans Dan Brown film Angels & Demons from Rome churches". The Times. London.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.01.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 21.09.2011" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Kington, Tom (20 February 2013). "Vatican murmurs about Mahony's attendance at papal conclave". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Nomina del Delegato Pontificio per la Congregazione dei Legionari di Cristo". Press Office of the Holy See. 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ "Vatican official outlines next steps in Legion of Christ reform". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ "Translation of the original Italian version" (PDF). Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Reforms coming for Regnum Christi : News Headlines". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Rules for Legion-linked group invalid
- ^ "Cardinal reports progress in reform as Legionaries start chapter". webarchive.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ "News from the Vatican - News about the Church - Vatican News". www.vaticannews.va. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
- ^ Exodus as pope's Legion reform lags
- ^ "Cardinal hints at papal pardon for butler". Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
- ^ Brockhaus, Hannah (9 September 2017). "Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, canon law scholar, dies at age 81". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
External links
