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 2019, the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is stably present in 21 countries. It is organized into 9 territories and 2 delegations. It has 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, 7 novitiates, and 10 vocational centers.

It also has an International Pontifical Seminary in Rome and an Interdiocesan Seminary and Theological Institute in São Paulo, Brazil. It manages the Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Cancún-Chetumal, Mexico.

The year 2019 concludes with 1,455 Legionaries of Christ: 4 bishops (no change), 970 priests (+26 compared to the previous year), 390 religious in formation (-46), and 91 novices (-26). The variation from the previous year is -3% in members.

Among the 970 priests, there are 13 priests laicized under c. 686 of the Code of Canon Law and 18 priests living temporarily outside community due to work, studies, or health reasons, under c. 665 § 1. This statistic also includes 3 priests who are in an irregular situation.

During 2019, 1 priest passed away. In the same period, 7 priests were incardinated into a diocese, and 4 requested dispensation from the obligations related to Holy Orders. A priest was also expelled from the Congregation.

Regarding the Legionaries in initial formation, this year 51 novices entered; 37 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, 194 with temporary vows, 91 novices, and 30 deacons. Compared to the previous year, there is a 23% decrease in new novices, a 10% decrease in first professions, and a 31% decrease in perpetual professions.

In the same period, 41 young men discerned in the novitiate that religious life in the Legionaries of Christ was not their path.

In 2019, 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 17 decided not to renew them at the end of the period for which they had made them.

The average age of Legionary priests is 49 years, and the average age of the entire Congregation is 42 years.

During 2019, the total number of minor seminarians was 392.

 

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, 2019

 

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 (2015-2019)

 

Graph 3

Distribution of priests across territories

• This graph reflects the countries where there are Legionary communities, which form the geography of the same.
• The number of religious houses in each country is specified in parentheses.