Community had about 20,000 male members

Lay movement "Sodalicio" confirms dissolution by the Pope

Aparecida - The Catholic community "Sodalicio" had been the subject of controversy for some time due to abuse of power and sexualised violence. It has now confirmed its dissolution by the Pope - and apologised.

Published  on 01.02.2025 at 13:38  – 

The controversial Catholic community "Sodalitium Christianae Vitae" has confirmed its dissolution by Pope Francis. In a statement published on Friday (local time) in Aparecida, Brazil, the organisation accepted the Pope's decision and apologised to the members of the congregation affected by abuse.

A canonical investigation in July and August 2023 had brought to light serious abuse of power and sexualised violence within the community, which originates from Peru and is known as "Sodalicio" for short in Latin America. In September 2024, ten members were dismissed from the Sodalicio at the Pope's behest. A month earlier, the Vatican had already officially expelled founder Luis Fernando Figari from the community following allegations of sexual abuse.

"As an assembly, we would like to express with sadness and deep remorse our request for forgiveness to the victims and all those affected by the various abuses in our history, for the wounds they have caused and for the whole scandal that has arisen as a result," reads the statement now published by the General Assembly of the Catholic community.

Substantial assets

With around 20,000 male members, the Sodalicio was one of the medium-sized specialised communities in the Catholic Church. It was larger than most classical religious communities, but smaller and less widespread than Opus Dei or the Neocatechumenals, for example. The community was founded in 1971 in the Peruvian capital Lima. Within a few years, the group gained great influence in the Catholic Church as a counter-movement to liberation theology, which was perceived as politically left-wing. Pope John Paul II (1978-2005) officially recognised the organisation in 1997.

The movement was held in high esteem in the Vatican at the time. It filled its seminaries and religious houses with young members, while the seminaries of other religious orders became increasingly empty. For a long time, the local church superiors did not follow up on reports of abuse. According to media reports, the Sodalicio, which also included a female branch, had considerable assets. It is still unclear whether these will be transferred to a successor organisation yet to be founded or whether they will be transferred to other church bodies. (mtr/KNA)