Pope Francis has made the rare decision to dissolve the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, an influential Catholic group from Peru, due to longstanding allegations of abuse within its community. The group, which once boasted 20,000 members across South America and parts of the United States, has been plagued by accusations of abuse, including those involving its founder, for over a decade.
The Vatican has not officially commented on the dissolution, but the Sodalitium confirmed the news in a statement. The decision to suppress the group follows a 2023 Vatican investigation that uncovered disturbing abuses of power, authority, and spirituality within the organization.
The founder of the Sodalitium, Luis Fernando Figari, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement. Despite denying the accusations, Figari was expelled from the order by the pope in August 2024, along with 10 other leading members.
The Sodalitium has acknowledged the harm caused to victims and has paid over $5 million in damages. Victims of abuse within the group have been seeking justice for years, with complaints lodged as early as 2011.
The Sodalitium, founded in 1971 in Peru, targeted young boys from elite Catholic schools and upper-class families. The group's ideology was described as mixing Catholicism with fascist ideas, and its founder was characterized as manipulative and obsessed with sexual issues.
This unprecedented decision by Pope Francis to dissolve the Sodalitium marks a significant step in addressing the abuses within the Catholic organization. Victims and advocates hope that this action will bring a measure of justice and accountability to those who have suffered at the hands of the Sodalitium.
