On October 7, 2008, the decree Saeculorum Rex established the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest as a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right in the form of canons secular. On January 29, 2016, Feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of the Institute, the Holy See gave its permanent approval of the Constitutions of the Institute.

The Church’s solemn hymn of thanksgiving, the Te Deum, was sung at the Institute’s international seminary and Motherhouse in Gricigliano, Italy, following second vespers of the feast day of St. Francis de Sales. His Excellency, the Most Reverend Francois Bacqué, apostolic nuncio, who was the Apostolic Visitor to the Institute, will celebrate a Pontifical Mass of thanksgiving on February 2.  Deo gratias!