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In a significant move, Pope Francis has officially dissolved the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a Catholic religious community that had faced multiple allegations of sexual and psychological abuse. The community, which originated in Peru and boasted around 20,000 members at its peak, confirmed the dissolution on Monday through a statement, although no detailed reasons were provided.
The Sodalitium, founded in 1971 by Luis Fernando Figari, received formal recognition as a Catholic community in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. Over the past decade, it had been under investigation by both Peruvian authorities and the Vatican. A report released in 2017 highlighted that Figari and several high-ranking members had abused at least 19 minors and 10 adults.
Pope Francis, who has made addressing sexual abuse in the Church a priority during his papacy, had previously expelled Figari from the community in 2024. In a rare action, the pope's decision to dissolve the community emphasizes the Church's ongoing efforts to confront scandals related to abuse. The Vatican's future approach to similar communities under scrutiny remains to be seen.