The Vatican has officially expelled Luis Fernando Figari, the lay founder of the Peruvian religious movement Sodalitium, according to the site Rome Reports.
This decision follows an investigation entrusted in 2023 by Pope Francis to two members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: the Archbishop of Malta, Charles Scicluna, and Father Jordi Bertomeu.
Pope Francis had sent them to Peru to analyze the case of Figari, who was accused of sexual abuse. The community's current superior, José David Correa, had asked the Vatican in 2019 to open a canonical process to expel the founder.
After the conclusion of the investigation, the Vatican issued a statement, signed by Pope Francis, formalizing Figari's expulsion from the organization. The reasons for his dismissal are as follows:
- Circumstances incompatible with and therefore unacceptable for a member of a Church institution.
- A cause of scandal and serious harm to the good of the Church and the faithful.
The Sodalitium movement has expressed its acceptance of the papal decision, stating that 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 adherence, within the framework of the path of renewal that our community has been following for several years with the guidance and accompaniment of the Holy See."
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This case began in 2011 when Sodalitium began receiving allegations of abuse. However, it was not until 2015 that the scandal broke into the open, with the publication of the book "Mitad monjes, mitad soldados" (Half Monks, Half Soldiers) by Pedro Salinas and Paola Ugaz.
The following year, in 2016, the former Superior General condemned the founder of Sodalitium with these words:
ARCHIVES, 2016 ALESSANDRO MORONI Former Superior General
"In light of the testimonies presented, we consider citizen Luis Fernando Figari guilty of the abuses of which he is accused and declare him unwelcome within our organization, which deplores and fully condemns his behavior."
Sodalitium is a society of apostolic life of lay faithful. Born in Peru, the movement was approved by Pope John Paul II in 1997.