Pope Leo XIV demands that any abuse of any form of tolerance in the Catholic Church – State
Pope Leo XIV said that the Catholic Church should not tolerate any type of abuse (sexual, spiritual or abuse of authority) and called for a “transparent process” to build a culture of prevention throughout the church.
Leo made its first public comment on the clergy’s sexual abuse scandal in a written message to Peruvian journalists, who documented a particularly serious case of abuse and financial corruption in the Peruvian Catholic movement, namely Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.
The news was read aloud in Lima on Friday night, a dramatic performance based on the Sodalitium scandal and the work of journalist Paola Ugaz.
Leo said in the message: “It is urgent to take root in the entire church a culture of prevention that does not tolerate any form of abuse, whether it is power or authority, conscience, spiritual or sexual abuse.” “This culture is only true if it is born with a positive vigilance, transparent process and sincere listening to the injured person. For this, we need journalists.”
Leo is well aware of the Sodi scandal because the group was founded in 1971 for twenty years as a missionary and bishop in Peru. The then-Biography of Bishop Robert Prevost was responsible for listening to the victims of Sudi people to listen to the mistreatment victims of Peruvian Bishops and helped some people build certain financial communities with organizations.
After Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican in 2023, Prevost completely removed the organization by overseeing the resignation of a powerful Bishop of Sodalit. Before Francis' death, S. sosoftella had been officially suppressed earlier this year.
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Now, as the Pope, Leo must supervise the demolition of Soltaliti and its large amount of assets. Vatican Envoy on the ground handled the work, Mr. Jordi Bertomeu read the message of Leo on Friday night and appeared on stage with Ugaz.
In the news, Leo also praised journalists for their courage to pay strong responsibilities, demanded public authorities to protect them, and said that free media is a “common interest that cannot be waived.”
Ugaz and Sodalitium victim Pedro Salinas have faced years of criminal and civil lawsuits from Sodalitium and its supporters to investigate the group's distorted practices and financial misconduct, and praised Leo's handling of the case.
The abuse scandal is one of the most difficult archives facing Leo, especially given the survivor’s demands, he imposes zero tolerance responsibility across the church, including the victim being an adult abuser.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
