EL PAÍS launched an investigation into pedophilia in the Spanish Church in 2018 and has updated with all known cases. If you know of any case that has not seen the light, you can write to us at: If it is a case in Latin America, the address is:
───────────
Pope Leo XIV has taken an unprecedented and energetic step that confirms that he not only follows Francis’ line in the fight against pedophilia and abuse of all kinds in the Church, but that he even goes further than his predecessor. He has done so in one of the most complex files, but one that he knows very well: the scandal of the powerful ultra-conservative group Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana of Peru, present in many Latin American countries and which was . Al to expedite the compensation of the victims, but in this case the novelty is that the Vatican itself will directly open a listening channel in Peru in May to agree on compensation. Both for sexual assaults and for abuses of authority and sectarianism, and it will do so with the money and assets seized from this organization, an exceptional initiative that sets a precedent for other similar entities. As in the Spanish case, Leo XIV wants to leave the case in the process of being resolved before his visit to Peru, possibly at the end of the year.
El Sodalicio and claims that it has paid $5.3 million in compensation, but now many more could emerge that remain hidden. The decision was made public this Wednesday, early morning in Spain, which includes a long statement from the Pope’s special commissioner on this matter, the Spanish priest Jordi Bertomeu. He is an official of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith and for years has become the main investigator that the Vatican sends to address pedophilia scandals, since .
In the summer of 2023 he was sent again to Peru along with Monsignor Charles Scicluna, another heavyweight in the fight against abuse, and a battle began in which he has even suffered personal, media and judicial attacks from the Sodalicio network, related to far-right media and with connections in Spain. , who when he was bishop in Peru was decisive in bringing the case to light and before the conclave received accusations of alleged cover-up of a case of pedophilia in Chiclayo.
Bertomeu, on the other hand, went for the victims of the Jesuits in Bolivia, a case uncovered by EL PAÍS, but the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (CEB) denies that he had any role in the investigation of that case, since it has not kept that file. He explains that the visits made by Bertomeu, “at the invitation of different instances of the Church in Bolivia, have been strictly formative and institutional in nature.” “At no time has an investigative mission been organized in the country on cases of sexual abuse, as has occurred in other contexts. If any complaint has been made known, it has been duly attended to and forwarded to the competent authorities,” he specifies. Asked about this by this newspaper, Bertomeu did not want to make any statements.
The case of the Sodalitium is similar to that of the Legionaries of Christ, swept by the abuse scandal, although the organization managed to survive under John Paul II and Benedict XVI. But with the Sodalicio, Francisco chose to liquidate it, due to a key reasoning that linked the sectarian traits and charisma of the group to the abuses committed. This organization had four different entities (the other three were the Marian Fraternity of Reconciliation, Servants of the Plan of God and the Christian Life Movement), all of them dissolved “due to the absence of a charisma of divine origin in their members,” according to the 2025 decree.
Founded in 1971 by , inspired by the Spanish Falange, the Sodalicio spread through the Peruvian wealthy classes and built a very influential economic empire. in the real estate, industrial, mining, schools and healthcare sectors, and with an alleged money laundering system through tax havens in Panama and the Virgin Islands. that they brought it to light was decisive. In another unusual gesture, , author of a controversial book about Opus Dei, in which he describes the Work as “an abusive sect.” In Argentina, this organization is and reduction to servitude.
Bertomeu explains in his statement that between May 4 and 22 he will open a “first listening channel” in the apostolic nunciature of Peru, within the framework of a new special mission of a diplomatic nature, aimed at those people who consider themselves victims who have not been duly compensated” of the Sodalicio. This is a window of dates to help all victims come to light and manage compensation, and after that date no more claims will be attended to. People who wish to go to this office can call the number +51 913200064 or report their case to the email comisario.pontificio.scv@gmail.com. The commissioner undertakes to provide a response within three months.
To pay the compensation, Bertomeu specifies, it will resort to the “consolidated value of the movable property and the income obtained from the sale of the real estate belonging to” the Sodalicio. The internal investigation has also focused on tracking the entity’s hidden funds, and the note details that the Vatican demanded the delivery of the inventory of all assets and its complete archive, which were delivered to the Peruvian nunciature on February 19.
A novel avenue of research
The statement expressly lists that physical, sexual and spiritual abuse will be compensated “through the instrumentalization, in the external forum, of the information obtained in the field of spiritual direction.” It also cites abuses of conscience “through practices of a sectarian nature aimed at breaking the will of subordinates,” and abuses of authority, such as “harassment in the work environment, concealment of institutional crimes and improper access to communications,” and of an economic nature. These are important clarifications, because it is a very broad typology with which the Vatican is assuming abuses that until now were not always considered.
It is also very innovative how the process has been carried out, an idea promoted by Francisco. To do justice to the victims, the canonical criminal route has not been used, full of obstacles and in which bishops and orders often hide and do not act, as in the case of Spain. On this occasion, an administrative, disciplinary route has been followed, with a simple and effective basis, canon 128: “Anyone who illegitimately causes damage to another by a legal act or by another act carried out with intent or guilt, is obliged to repair the damage caused.” That is to say, morally the Church should always repair the damage, without hiding in internal legal tricks.
Bertomeu will also supervise the situation of the priests of the Sodalitium, who did not depend on a bishop, but were on their own, as happens in Opus Dei. They considered a layman superior. He left office in 2010, but his successors have also been accused of abuse or cover-up. The Vatican now wants to examine “case by case” before incardinating these priests again. “If in any case said incardination has been carried out without prior authorization from the Holy See, the interested bishop will contact the apostolic commissioner to determine the way to proceed,” the note states.
Threats to the Vatican investigator
The last point of the statement is striking, because it alludes, precisely, to the hostilities that Bertomeu has faced these two years: “Finally, natural persons, legal entities or any other entity that intends to interfere again in the ongoing procedure – including inadmissible attempts at obstruction of a media or judicial nature (…) – are urged to refrain from again engaging in any conduct that could interfere with the proper development of actions whose sole objective is to offer a fair reparation for the damage caused to the victims.”
The tension with which this entire process is experienced by the former members of the Sodalicio is evident in the reaction of what was one of its prominent militants, . On social networks he has published an angry comment against the Vatican commissioner with this title: “Keep your threats to yourself, Bertomeu, because you are going to pay for them.” He is outraged above all by the obstacles to the incardination of priests from the Sodalicio, and after uttering insults and threats against the Spanish priest, he continues: “I want it to be clear to you, Bertomeu: you are in the crosshairs now more than ever, and you will continue to be; not out of hatred or revenge, but out of justice.”
