Pope names official to run Legionaries of Christ

[July 09, 2010]  VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope Benedict XVI has named a senior Vatican official to run the scandal-plagued Legionaries of Christ after an eight-month investigation of the order.

The Vatican announcement Friday said Italian Archbishop Velasio De Paolis is the papal delegate tapped to run the order. He heads the Vatican's financial office.

The order has been scarred by revelations that its founder sexually abused seminarians and fathered at least one child.

It is not immediately known what will happen with the cleric currently running the order. He met with Benedict last month.

[Associated Press]

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