The Peru-based Catholic group, known as Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), is a religious community founded in 1971 by Luis Fernando Figari. It is known for its emphasis on deep spiritual formation, evangelization, and social outreach, particularly among young people and professionals. The group operates in several Latin American countries and has ties to conservative Catholic movements. However, it has been in controversy, as Figari and other members have faced allegations of abuse and misconduct, leading to internal reforms and Vatican intervention. AP News stated, “The group gained significant influence in Peru and, at its zenith, at one point the religious group had 20,000 members.” These members stretched across the continent including South America and some parts of the United States.
The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was established as a reaction against the left-leaning liberation theology movement taking place in South America at the time. Pope Francis has taken the next step of dissolving the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae due to a comprehensive Vatican investigation which led to the uncovering of extensive sexual, financial, and spiritual abuses within the organization. The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was officially recognized by Pope John Paul ll in 1997 as a society of apostolic life, comprising both laypeople and clergy dedicated to sharing the Christian gospel and the message and teaching of Jesus Christ. This was particularly among the youth and the poor. However, beneath its outward piety, the organization harbored a dark underbelly and secret of abuse and corruption.
Further investigations revealed that the founder Luis Figari and other top members of this religious group engaged in outstandingly bad acts, some of which included sexual abuse of minors and adults, financial mismanagement, and spiritual manipulation. In August 2024, Pope Francis expelled Figari after determining his involvement in these abuses. The Vatican’s inquiry into the SVC uncovered a pattern of sadistic physical and sexual abuses, as well as psychological manipulation and financial corruption. In September of 2024, the Pope expelled a bishop, two priests, and seven laymen. Laymen are ordinary members of the church but they are neither clergy nor recipients of Holy Orders, they also aren’t vowed to the life of a religious order or congregation. Expelling these specific people also cast them out from society due to their involvement in the horrific acts.
The AP News had reported that these individuals were found guilty of “abuse of power, authority, sexual abuse, and covering up crimes.” The decision to dissolve the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was communicated to its members by Cardinal Gianfranco Ghorlanda during a general assembly held in Aparecida, Brazil, in January 2025. A general assembly in the Catholic Church is a formal gathering when clergy, religious leaders, and sometimes lay representatives discuss important matters related to doctrine, governance, or the church mission. The assemblies can vary due to the purpose or scope depending on the type of organization that is convening them.
In Catholic general assemblies, the decision-making process and also the voting process depend on the type of assembly and its purpose. Some of the assemblies rely on discussions and moral consensus, this means that the decisions are reached without a strict voting process. Instead, leaders would discuss issues, and the presiding authority such as the Pope, a cardinal, or the head of a religious order issues a final say. This one was most likely the process that took place since it was Pope Francis’s decision to dissolve the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.
This move in the church marked a significant difference from the previous papal actions, underscoring Pope Francis’s commitment to addressing abuse within the church. Former members and victims have highly praised the dissolution but expressed the importance of the need for compensation and justice. Pedro Salinas, who was a former member who had exposed the abuses, stated, “It’s a relief that the church has finally taken this step, but the wounds are still there, and reparations are necessary.”
The dissolving of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae also raises and brings into question the future of its considerable assets. The Holy See is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and also the spiritual/administrative authority of the Pope. It operates as the sovereign body of the Vatican City State and also represents the Catholic Church in diplomatic and legal matters. The Holy See is responsible for determining the allocation of these resources, and victims have called for them to be used as compensation for their suffering. Renzo Orbegozo, another former member, expressed concern stating, “The assets of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae should be directed toward healing and injustice for those harmed.”
