Movements and Associations
A Decree to Regulate Terms of Office
For healthy government in the international associations of the faithful

On the Solemnity Corpus Domini, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has given a General Decree to regulate the length and number of terms of office in the international associations of the faithful, and the participation of members in the process of electing the international government.
The Decree has been approved in forma specifica by Pope Francis, is promulgated on June 11th 2021, and will come into effect in three months. It applies to all the international associations of the faithful and other bodies recognised or erected by the Dicastery.
The goal of the Decree is to promote a healthy renewal within government, so that authority be exercised as an authentic service of ecclesial communion, avoiding personalisation and misappropriation.
With the Decree comes an Explanatory Note designed to facilitate its correct interpretation. Both texts are published in L'Osservatore Romano, and can be consulted here. Also available is a commentary by Fr. Ulrich Rhode, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, one of the Dicastery’s Consultors.
11 June 2021

Press Conference Announcement
Following the announcement of the Holy ...
Read all >
Passion for a renewed humanity in Christ is specific to Christians
On Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27, ...
Read all >
#AriseandGo: like Mary, an invitation to the Youth to arise and go towards the poor
Since last year, the World Youth Day in the ...
Read all >
Follow the Path of Peace: An Appeal to World Leaders to be Builders of Peace and Solidarity
One of the first fruits of the ...
Read all >