Governance in Lay Aggregations

A volume awaited by many has seen the light of day, containing the text of the general Decree on mandates of government in associations of the faithful - promulgated on June 11, 2021 - and the explanatory note that accompanies it. In the same volume are the proceedings of the Meeting with the moderators of the associations, held on September 16 last in the New Hall of the Synod, at which Pope Francis spoke. And so, along with the new norm on the association of the lay faithful, in the book there are also useful texts for the interpretation of the Decree itself, which allow us to grasp the mens rationale underlying the pronouncement, centered on the correct meaning of authority in the Church and the exercise of government in lay aggregations.

The Decree, in fact, was desired by the Holy Father precisely to protect the specific gifts of which the associations and movements are bearers, as well as the good of the members who constitute them. Along with Pope Francis' words, delivered at the September 16 meeting, and in addition to the presentation of the theme of governance in associations as an ecclesial service offered by the Prefect of the Dicastery, Card. Kevin Farrell, the volume includes a study by Msgr. Matteo Visioli, under-secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who at the Meeting presented the ecclesiological foundations of authority in the Church, and a report by Dr. Linda Ghisoni, under-secretary of the Dicastery, who offered guidelines for the proper exercise of governance by association leaders.

The book, published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana, will soon be available in English, Spanish and French.

Book: "Decreto generale: Le associazioni internazionali di fedeli" [IT]