In the process of dialogue between the
Community of the Beatitudes and the Pontifical Council for the
Laity, a meeting was held in Rome on December 3, 2008, initiated
by His Eminence Cardinal Rylko, President of the Dicastery, with
the government of the Community. His Eminence, Cardinal Panafieu,
designated to assist the Community, as well as the Most Reverend
Carré [Archbishop of Albi, France, bishop protector of
the Community], bishop in charge of the priests and seminarians
of the Community of the Beatitudes, also took part in the meeting.
At this time, the government of the Community gave an account of the
stages of preparation for the next General Assembly accomplished since
the previous meeting with the Dicastery in June 2008, and the results
of the different consultations conducted with the Community’s
permanently committed members.
The Pontifical Council for the Laity, from their side, announced the
decision made in agreement with the Congregation for Institutes of
Consecrated Life, to direct the Community of the Beatitudes toward
the creation of a “New Spiritual Family of Consecrated Life.”
This canonical structure, which belongs to the new forms of consecrated
life, will allow each state of life to participate in the charism and
spirituality of the Community in a new way, at the same time preserving
its unity. This will thus guarantee the permanency of the Community,
present today on all of the continents, in communion with the diocesan
bishops and under their protection.
The work to be carried out in the coming months will be redefined
to allow the next General Assembly to make this decision a reality.
All of this is a new step in the normal process of ecclesial recognition.
