Miles Christi (religious order)

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Miles Christi
FormationDecember 20, 1994
Founded atArgentina
Type Clerical Religious Order
Affiliations Catholic Church
Website https://www.mileschristi.org/

Miles Christi ('Soldier of Christ', postnominal MC) is a clerical religious order in the Catholic Church founded in the Archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina. Miles Christi was founded by Roberto Juan Yannuzzi and focused on the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola [1] and retreats, conferences, catechism, and spiritual direction. [2] On February 19, 2025, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life decreed the suppression of Miles Christi with the approval of Pope Francis on February 6, [3] which "begins a one-year process, at the end of which the Dicastery will declare the effective suppression." [4]

Contents

Foundation

The order was formally established as a Public Clerical Association of the Faithful in the Archdiocese of La Plata, Argentina on 20 December 1994. [5] On 11 February 1999, Miles Christi was elevated to the status of Clerical Religious Order. [5] In 2000, Miles Christi arrived in South Lyon, Michigan, by invite of Cardinal Adam Maida. Then arrived in San Diego, California and, in 2022, they found their 3rd American house in Denver, Colorado. [6] On 21 November 2020, the first US-born Miles Christi priest was ordained by Archbishop Allen Vigneron at the Sweetest Heart of Mary Church in Detroit, Michigan. [7]

After years of investigations against the founder Roberto Juan Yannuzzi the Vatican has ordered to laisize (to reduce to lay status) him. He is no longer a priest due to severe criminal activities. [8] The decision was made on 19 February 2025 by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. [9]

Announcement of suppression

On March 6, 2025, the bishops conference of Argentina announced that the Vatican had ordered the suppression of the institute, a process intended to take a year. This followed the years-long investigation into Yannuzzi. Notably, that investigation had in 2019 sent materials from the La Plata archdiocese to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, at which time the archbishop of La Plata was Víctor Fernández, who in 2023 was appointed prefect of the Dicastery. [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Miles Christi Priest to Speak at St. Mary Mokena Parish Mission". February 28, 2019.
  2. ↑ Dea, Micaela. "Pope Francis revives Latin America, Miles Christi Order".
  3. ↑ "El Vaticano decretó la supresión del instituto religioso Miles Christi". March 6, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Press Release". March 6, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Miles Christi "Soldier of Christ" | Miles Christi". June 18, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Fr. Maxwell becomes first U.S.-born man ordained for Miles Christi religious order". Detroit Catholic.
  7. ↑ Cross, The Southern. "San Diego native becomes first U.S.-born Miles Christi priest – The Southern Cross".
  8. ↑ https://www.ucanews.com/news/vatican-suppresses-argentine-order-following-abuse-probe/108107
  9. ↑ https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/vatican-suppresses-argentine-order-following-abuse-investigations
  10. ↑ "Vatican suppresses Argentine Miles Christi order". www.pillarcatholic.com. Pillar Catholic. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
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