Lima: A special Mass of Reparation was celebrated in northern Peru for communities and families who suffered for years under the actions of the now suppressed Sodalitium Christianae Vitae movement, known widely as “Sodalicio.”
The solemn celebration took place at the parish of San Juan Bautista in Catacaos, in Peru’s Piura region, bringing together members of the Tallán indigenous communities, Church leaders, and faithful seeking healing and justice after years of pain and conflict.
The Mass was held as a public gesture of repentance and solidarity with people who say they faced persecution, harassment, and the loss of ancestral lands linked to the activities of the movement. Many local families had spent more than a decade fighting to protect their territory and dignity.
Church representatives described the celebration as an important step in a long process of listening, healing, and rebuilding trust. Prayers during the liturgy focused on reconciliation, justice for victims, and hope for communities still carrying emotional and social wounds.
Sodalitium Christianae Vitae was once one of the most influential Catholic lay movements in Latin America. Founded in Peru in the 1970s by Luis Fernando Figari, the organization expanded rapidly across several countries and attracted many young Catholics through missionary and educational activities.
However, over the years, serious allegations emerged involving abuse, manipulation, corruption, and authoritarian practices by its founders and senior members. Former members and victims repeatedly accused the movement of psychological abuse, financial irregularities, and mistreatment of vulnerable people.
After years of investigations and growing international concern, Pope Francis officially suppressed the movement on April 14, 2025. The Vatican decree stated that the organization lacked a genuine foundational charisma and highlighted the seriousness of the scandals surrounding its leadership.
The decision became one of the final major acts of Pope Francis before the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who had served for many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. He was known for supporting victims and encouraging investigations into abuses connected to Sodalitium.
To guide the process of dissolving the movement, the Vatican appointed Father Jordi Bertomeu FarnĂłs as apostolic commissioner. The Spanish priest, who works with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, had previously assisted in investigations into abuse cases in Chile and other Latin American countries together with Archbishop Charles Scicluna.
During the Mass in Catacaos, Church leaders renewed calls for accountability and urged society not to forget the suffering experienced by affected communities. Participants said the ceremony was not only about remembering the past but also about opening a path toward justice and lasting peace.
For many families present, the gathering represented an emotional moment of recognition after years in which they felt unheard. Community members expressed hope that the Church’s public acknowledgment of their suffering would help restore dignity to those affected and encourage greater protection for vulnerable communities in the future.