Alienum phaedrum torquatos nec eu, vis detraxit periculis ex, nihil expetendis in mei. Mei an pericula euripidis, hinc partem.
Latest Update: May 10th, 2024
The Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) is a Catholic Church institution canonically recognized since 1997 as a Lay Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. As such, it is under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Holy See, specifically the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA), which ordinarily oversees it.
Upon learning of various abuse allegations against the founder and certain other members and former members of the Sodalitium, the Holy See, through the DIVCSVA, has undertaken various actions aimed at clarifying what happened, imposing measures, and closely accompanying the governance of the Sodalitium in its process of renewal. The Sodalitium has consistently complied with all directives from the Holy See and continues to collaborate with the Delegates appointed for various tasks of oversight.
The following details the actions taken by the Holy See:
On April 22nd, 2015, the DIVCSVA appointed Mons. Fortunato Pablo Urcey, O.A.R., Bishop Prelate of Chota (Peru), as Apostolic Visitor to investigate allegations made in Peru against Luis Fernando Figari, who served as Superior General of the Sodalitium until December 2010.
Mons. Urcey conducted visits to the communities in Peru and engaged in discussions with all Sodalites residing in the country. He subsequently submitted a report to the DIVCSVA outlining the findings of his investigation.
Mons. Fortunato Pablo Urcey, O.A.R., Bishop Prelate of Chota, Peru
On May 4th, 2016, the DIVCSVA appointed the now Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., currently Archbishop of Newark (United States), as Delegate to accompany and guide the governance of the Sodalitium.
The Delegate’s mission was to provide support and assistance to the General Government of the SCV in its ongoing process of renewal. Cardinal Tobin conducted visits to Peru, visited the Formation Center, participated in several sessions of the General Government, and held various meetings with members of the Sodalitium.
He was also present at the presentation of the report by the independent investigators commissioned by the Sodalitium to examine past abuses, as well as at the Fifth General Assembly in 2019.
Card. Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, United States
On January 30th, 2017, as the conclusion of the canonical process against Luis Fernando Figari, the DIVCSVA sent a letter to the Superior General of the Sodalitium outlining the measures imposed on Figari, which the Sodalitium has complied with to date:
Figari subsequently appealed these measures twice before the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, but both appeals were rejected (January 31, 2018, and October 2, 2018).
After the Fifth Assembly of the Sodalitium, the DIVCSVA informed the new Superior General, José David Correa, of the Apostolic Signatura’s decision. The measures concerning Mr. Figari were then enforced. Currently, Mr. Figari resides in a retirement home for the elderly in southern Italy, with no involvement in the life or governance of the Sodalitium. He receives the same care as any other resident of the facility.
On June 1, 2018, the DIVCSVA issued a statement through the Peruvian Episcopal Conference clarifying that there was no protection for Luis Fernando Figari and that he could return to Peru if requested by civil justice authorities. Previously, in October 2016, the Superior General declared that there were no obstacles preventing Figari from facing Peruvian justice.
On December 11th, 2017, the DIVCSVA appointed Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., as “Pontifical Assistant to the Fifth General Assembly of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae,” with the task of overseeing the preparation and execution of the Assembly. Months earlier, Cardinal Ghirlanda had delivered lectures in Lima for members of the Sodalitium, which were later published in the book “The Charism and the Life of Full Apostolic Availability.” He continues to accompany the Sodalitium in its process of renewal.
On January 10th, 2018, the DIVCSVA appointed Mons. Noel Londoño, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Jericó (Colombia), as “Apostolic Commissioner for the Sodalitium,” granting him the highest authority within the organization. Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, O.F.M., was also appointed as “Assistant Commissioner.” Cardinal Joseph Tobin continued as Delegate, but with the specific responsibility of overseeing financial management. Since that date, the General Government of the SCV has submitted biannual reports to him, and all his recommendations have been implemented.
Mons. Noel Londoño, C.Ss.R., Bishop of Jericó (Colombia), Apostolic Commissioner for the Sodalitium.
On December 13th, 2018, Pope Francis received the Apostolic Commissioners, Mons. Noel Londoño and Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, in a private audience, accompanied by Mons. José Rodríguez Carballo, then Secretary of the DIVCSVA. The meeting addressed the Commissioners’ canonical visitation to Sodalitium communities in the nine countries where it is present, as well as the preparations for the upcoming General Assembly.
Private audience of Pope Francis with the Apostolic Commissioners of the Sodalitium and the Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in December 2018.
From January 6th to 27th, 2019, with the approval of the DIVCSVA, the Fifth General Assembly of the Sodalitium was held in Aparecida, Brazil. It was presided over by the Apostolic Commissioners, Mons. Noel Londoño and Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, and attended by Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., and Card. Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R.
The Assembly included the participation of all members with perpetual commitment in the Sodalitium. During the gathering, the Commissioners’ report to the Holy Father was presented, a Message of Forgiveness and Reconciliation was issued, and the final drafting of the new Ratio Formationis (Formation Plan) and the revision of the Constitutions were undertaken.
After the election of new authorities, which were submitted to the DIVCSVA for approval, Colombian José David Correa was appointed as the new Superior General, along with the members of the Superior Council, for a six-year term. With the election of the new authorities, the DIVCSVA declared the period of Apostolic Commissariat for the Sodalitium concluded.
Card. Joseph Tobin, Mons. Noel Londoño, and Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez during the Fifth General Assembly of the Sodalitium (2019).
At the conclusion of the Fifth General Assembly, the DIVCSVA appointed Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, O.F.M., as “Delegado ad nutum” of the Sodalitium to advise and support the Superior General and the General Government. Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda was also appointed as “Delegate for Formation” and later, in November 2020, as Consultant for the process of revising the Sodalitium’s Constitutions. To date, the Ratio Formationis (Formation Plan) has been completed and is being applied ad experimentum, while the Constitution revision process is nearing completion.
Card. Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., continued his role overseeing the Sodalitium’s financial management.
[Left] Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., Delegate for Formation | [Right] Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, O.F.M., Delegate Ad nutum.
At the end of July 2023, Pope Francis sent a Special Mission to Peru to gather information about the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. This mission was composed of Mons. Charles J. Scicluna (Adjunct Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith) and Mons. Jordi Bertomeu (Official of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith).
On July 26th and 27th, 2023, the Superior General and four other Sodalits were summoned to meet with Pope Francis’ envoys at the Apostolic Nunciature in Peru. During this meeting, the Superior General presented an updated report on the victim reparation process initiated in 2016 and received a request for documentation related to the institution’s financial matters, which was submitted to the Special Mission in August 2023.
In February 2024, the Special Mission sent specific requests to the Superior General to investigate certain members of the Sodalitium, which are currently being processed.
José David Correa, Superior General of the Sodalitium, met with Pope Francis’ envoys to Peru in July 2023.
On August 14th, 2024, the Peruvian Episcopal Conference announced, through a communiqué, the decree of expulsion of Luis Fernando Figari from the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae. This decree was issued by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (DIVCSVA) under the explicit delegation of Pope Francis. This expulsion took place as part of the work carried out by the Special Mission.
On September 25th, 2024, the Apostolic Nunciature in Peru announced, via a press release, Pope Francis’ decision to expel ten members of the Sodalitium following the evaluation of allegations presented during the “Special Mission” led by Mons. Charles Scicluna and Mons. Jordi Bertomeu. The Sodalitium issued a statement accepting this decision and expressing its adherence to the Holy Father and the Church.
The Sodalitium is actively cooperating with the delegates of the Special Mission, which will continue as long as the Holy Father deems necessary. At the same time, the renewal process is advancing in close collaboration with the appointed delegates (Card. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., Card. Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R., and Fr. Guillermo Rodríguez, O.F.M.).
On October 30th, 2021, Pope Francis received the Superior General of the Sodalitium, José David Correa, in a private audience at the Vatican. During this meeting, Correa reported on the reality of the community and the ongoing process of renewal.
Private audience of Pope Francis with José David Correa, Superior General of the Sodalitium, October 2021.
After the Special Mission sent by the Holy Father visited Peru, the Superior General met again with Pope Francis on December 1st. During this audience, Correa provided the Holy Father with an update on the progress of the Sodalitium and addressed specific issues. The Pope encouraged him to continue with the efforts undertaken in communion with the Church.