Since then, this Pontifical Institute has always been a meaningful expression of Our concern and spiritual closeness to every ecclesial and human reality in the Holy Land, which We have always loved, as have our predecessors.

In order to ensure the stability and continuity of the Pontifical Institute “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center”, we have considered it fitting to entrust it to the care and direction of the Congregation of the “Legionaries of Christ”.

In fact it is well known that this Congregation’s proper and specific purpose is the establishment of our Lord Jesus Christ’s kingdom of love according to the demands of Christian justice and charity.

We consider, therefore, that the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is capable of providing:

• hospitality to pilgrims coming from all over the world to visit the Holy Land, particularly clergy and consecrated persons;
• initiatives proper to the “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center” as a privileged place of meeting and dialogue among religions, cultures, and peoples;
• formation activities that will carry on the work done so far in the Pontifical Institute;
• everything that will be necessary to improve the care and direction of the “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center”.

His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State, has been charged by Us to execute this entrustment with the respective decree. He will ensure that the norms necessary or useful directions are given, following Our Decree of Establishment and observing the Statutes and other operative laws and dispositions that have to do with the Pontifical Institute “Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center”.

We entrust this new apostolate of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in the Holy Land to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, under whose protection this Pontifical Institute has always been placed.

Given in Rome, from the Apostolic Palace, November 26 in the year 2004, XXVI of Our Pontificate.