Pope Francis has sent a message of support to Peruvian farmers who claim a Catholic movement subject to Vatican investigation is trying to steal their property.
The villagers of Piura in northern Peru accuse the Sodalities of Christian Life – Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) – of attempting to obtain nearly 5,000 acres of their land with forged legal documents.
In a message filmed at his home, the Casa Santa Marta in Rome, Pope Francis said: “I know what is happening to you. Defend your land and don’t let yourselves be robbed. Thank you for what you are doing.”
He encouraged the 200 farming families of Piura, who raise cattle and produce honey, to “take courage and carry on”.
The Pope imparted a blessing in the video, sent to mark the 466th anniversary of the founding of the community of San Juan Bautista de Catacaos.
Last summer, the farmers met Archbishop Charles Scicluna of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) when he visited Peru to investigate whether to dissolve the SCV.
Founded in Peru in 1971 by the layman Luis Figari, the SCV operates in several South American comprised. Comprised of clergy and consecrated lay members, drawn initially from the pale-skinned Peruvian upper classes, it runs schools and retreat centres and also has financial holdings in property, agriculture and construction companies.
In 2015, a former SCV member, Pedro Salinas published a book with the journalist Paola Ugaz accusing Figari of sexual abuse. In 2016, the movement acknowledged the allegations were true.
Farmers told Archbsihop Scicluna that companies linked to the SCV have been trying to evict them from 1,895 hectares (approximately 4,680 acres) of their land since 2014.
A financial spokesman for the SCV disputed the claims, saying the movement’s acquisition of land in Piura “has always been done legally, through purchase and sale contracts”.
Peruvian judges are still investigating the land dispute.
Loading ...
