The Vatican has expelled the lay founder of the Peruvian Sodalitium religious movement, Luis Fernando Figari. This is the result of an investigation the Pope entrusted to two members of the Doctrine of the Faith in 2023: the Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna, and Fr. Jordi Bertomeu.
Pope Francis had sent them to Peru to analyze Figari's case, where he was accused of sexual abuse. The current superior of the community, José David Correa, had asked the Vatican in 2019 to open a canonical process to expel the founder.
After the investigation ended, the Vatican issued this statement, signed by Pope Francis, officially expelling Figari from the organization. Their grounds for his dismissal are as follows:
Incompatible, and therefore unacceptable, circumstances in a member of an institution of the Church.
Cause of scandal and grave harm to the good of the Church and of individual members of the faithful.
The Sodalitium movement expressed its acceptance of the Pope's decision, and therefore, Figari is no longer part of the community:
This measure is a gesture of pastoral charity, justice and reconciliation within our community and with all those who have been affected by the abuses committed by Mr. Figari. We express our gratitude with filial adhesion as part of the path of renewal that our community has been following for several years with the guidance and company of the Holy See.
This case began in 2011 when Sodalitium began receiving allegations of abuse. But it wasn't until 2015 that the scandal made headlines following the publication of the book “Half monks, half soldiers" by Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz.
The following year, in 2016, the then Superior General condemned the founder of Sodalitium with these words:
ARCHIVE, 2016
ALESSANDRO MORONI
Former Superior General
In light of the testimony presented, we find citizen Luis Fernando Figari guilty of the abuses he has been accused of and declare him unwelcome in our organization, which completely deplores and condemns his behavior.
Sodalitium is a society of lay apostolic life. Born in Peru, it was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
CA
TR: KG
