Abuse survivors thank Pope Leo XIV by for fighting for them

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Bishop Robert Prevost in Peru, has earned praise from survivors of the abusive Catholic group known as Sodalitium Christiane Vitae. These victims say he was one of the few church leaders who truly heard their cries for justice.

Despite years of silence and neglect from the local and Vatican hierarchy, Prevost took their accusations seriously. He helped initiate financial compensation efforts and was instrumental in arranging a critical 2022 audience with Pope Francis, which launched a Vatican probe into the group’s widespread abuses.

Sodalitium, founded in 1971 by Luis Fernando Figari, was a conservative religious community that claimed to recruit “soldiers for God.” At its peak, it had around 1,000 core members and several thousand affiliates across South America and the U.S. However, its leader was revealed to have committed brutal physical, sexual, and psychological abuses.

When former members and journalists exposed these atrocities, the group fought back with lawsuits and intimidation. Prevost stood as a key ally to survivors and whistleblowers, helping them navigate the church’s resistance.

Following the Vatican’s 2023 investigation, the group was officially disbanded in April 2024, with its leaders expelled. Yet, Pope Leo XIV’s record in handling other abuse claims has come under fresh scrutiny, as some question his response to a 2022 case in Chiclayo, Peru.

Supporters argue that attacks on him are fueled by Sodalitium loyalists aiming to tarnish his reputation. Nonetheless, critics demand full transparency and justice for all victims.

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