Fr. John Connor, LC, Temporarily Delegates Governance of the Legionaries of Christ Due to Illness

This morning, as the world wakes to the news that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has passed away at the age of 88, the Legionaries of Christ pray with deep love and gratitude for how he has shepherded the congregation and all of Regnum Christi over the past 13 years, which have been pivotal in the renewal of their identity and mission.During this octave of Easter, we reflect on Christ’s joyful victory over sin and death and how our Holy Father lived his life in service to the Church with firm faith in this glorious reality.

The Legionaries of Christ announce this morning that after months of careful discernment and planning with his council, Fr. John Connor, LC, general director, is temporarily delegating governing authority to Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC, vicar general, for health reasons. The temporary delegation, which begins today and will extend until September 1, 2025, was planned well in advance but providentially falls on the date that our Lord has called our Holy Father to himself. The Holy See was made known of the temporary delegation prior to the Holy Father’s passing.

Fr. John was elected as general director of the Legionaries of Christ at the General Chapter held in January 2020, after serving in many leadership roles in the North American Territory, including two terms as territorial director.

In an official statement from the Congregation that references a letter Fr. John wrote to all Legionaries, he shares that he has been diagnosed with Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech. Although this rare and slowly developing neurodegenerative disorder has not affected his cognitive ability, it has caused him to experience intensified fatigue and a progressive deterioration in his ability to articulate words clearly. “For fifteen years now I have served in different roles of territorial and general government. It has been a grace to offer myself in service to the Congregation, Regnum Christi, and the Church. However, in recent years I have experienced deep fatigue, exacerbated by some health complications that, although at the moment not life threatening, do require greater attention and care on my part.” he states in his letter.

For this reason, and in accordance with numbers 157 and 167 of the Constitutions of the Congregation, Fr. John has delegated decision-making authority to the vicar general, Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC, “in whom I fully trust to guide the Congregation with the support of the other general councilors and to collaborate in the governing bodies of Regnum Christi,” he indicates in his letter. “I share this situation with all of you in the hope that we can continue to walk together with confidence, because, although this health condition imposes certain limitations on me, it does not prevent me from continuing to love and serve. I remain fully committed to the mission, supported by a solid team and, above all, by the grace of God that sustains me. In this context, and with the desire to be responsible for the mission entrusted to me, I have decided to take a few months to rest. I do so following the advice of my doctors, after having discussed it with the general council and my spiritual director and, above all, after having brought it to prayer. This time will allow me to take care of my health and prepare well to participate, God willing, in the General Chapter in January 2026.”

Letter from Fr. John Connor to all Legionaries of Christ

What is Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech?

About Fr. John Connor, LC

Fr. John Lane Connor, LC, was born in Severna Park, Maryland. He received his degree in finance from Loyola University Maryland in 1990. On September 15, 1991, he entered the novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ in Röttgen, Germany. While in formation, he worked at Montecarlo de Madrid, Spain’s Everest School.

Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on January 2, 2001. He served on the East Coast of the United States from the time of his ordination until 2010, playing a role in founding and leading the Lumen Institute and serving as the local coordinator of apostolate for Regnum Christi in the New York City metropolitan area from 2004 to 2010. He served as territorial director for the Atlanta Territory from 2010 to 2011, then as assistant for apostolate in the North American Territory from 2011 until 2014, when he was appointed as territorial director.

Fr. John was elected general director of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ by its General Chapter on February 6, 2020. His brother, Fr. Martin, is also a Legionary priest.

Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC, Vicar General of the Legionaries of Christ

Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC, was born on January 6, 1959, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. He joined the Legionaries of Christ in 1976 and completed his novitiate and humanities studies in Salamanca, Spain. In 1978, he moved to Rome to begin his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the Gregorian University. He graduated with a licentiate from that faculty in 1982. In 1990, he completed his theology studies at the Angelicum and was ordained a priest on January 3, 1991. He collaborated in youth ministry in Spain, and in vocational ministry in Italy and Mexico. From 2011 to 2016, he was rector of the Theology Community at the Legionaries of Christ’s International College in Rome. In 2016, he moved to Mexico City to collaborate in vocational promotion and serve as rector of the Student Center and territorial councilor. He was elected first councilor and vicar general by the General Chapter of the Congregation in February 2020.

We invite all members of Regnum Christi and friends of Fr. John to pray with and for him as a spiritual family. Although Fr. John will be prioritizing rest in the coming months, with a reduced availability for replying to personal messages, Regnum Christi has established an email relay to him for all who wish to share their prayers, thoughts, and closeness, using the message box on this webpage.

Official Statement from the Legionaries of Christ

Link to Spanish Original

Statement on the temporary delegation of the general government of the Congregation

In a message sent to all Legionaries of Christ, the General Director announced that he is temporarily delegating the general governance of the Congregation for health reasons.
The delegation is set to expire on September 1, 2025, but the final duration will depend on several factors, including Fr. John Connor’s doctor’s recommendations.
This decision guarantees the uninterrupted continuity of the ordinary governance of the Legion.

Rome, April 21, 2025. In a message addressed to all Legionaries of Christ, the General Director of the Congregation, Fr. John Connor, LC, announced that he has decided to temporarily delegate the general governance of the Legion for health reasons, a position he has held since 2020.

“For fifteen years I have served in various roles in territorial and general government. It has been a grace to be able to dedicate my strength to the service of the Congregation, Regnum Christi, and the Church. However, in recent years I have experienced profound fatigue, exacerbated by some health complications that, while not life-threatening at the moment, do require greater attention and care from me,” he states in his letter.

Fr. John adds that after a thorough medical evaluation he was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease called Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech (Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech) which affects the brain’s ability to coordinate the movements necessary for speech. This has significantly contributed to his fatigue, indicating that despite modifying his work habits and delegating some activities to his governing team, “these measures have not been sufficient,” so following the recommendations of his doctors, and after consulting with his general council, he has decided to take a period to dedicate to specialized examinations and rest. “This time will allow me to attend more closely to my health and to prepare adequately to, God willing, participate in the General Chapter scheduled for January 2026”.

For this reason, and in accordance with numbers 157 and 167 of the Constitutions of the Congregation, Fr. John has delegated decision-making authority to the Vicar General, Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC, “in whom I fully trust to guide the Congregation with the support of the other general councilors and to collaborate in the organs of Regnum Christi,” he indicates in his letter. This delegation includes all powers and ordinary government functions, with the exception of the appointments of territorial directors and councilors, as well as admission to holy orders. In this way, the government of the Congregation will continue to exercise its ordinary functions without interruption.

The stipulated end date for the delegation is September 1, 2025, but it could be shortened or extended depending on several factors, including medical recommendations: “I have given all I could, but now I must humbly heed this call for prudence so that I can continue to serve generously in the future,” Fr. John explains in his letter.

Finally, Fr. John indicates that he is making this news public during Easter Week, the days in which we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death. This historic and ever-present event should fill us with confidence, knowing that the cross, when borne with love, always leads to God’s glory.

We accompany Fr. John at this moment, praying to God for his health.

About Fr. Hernán Jiménez, LC

International Communications Office
press@legionaries.org
+39 328 9872615
www.legionariosdecristo.org

North American Communications Office
Kerrie Rivard
Director of Marketing & Communications
678-896-8726
krivard@regnumchristi.com
www.legionariesofchrist.org