Sodalitium Christianae Vitae

Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), or Sodalitium of Christian Life was a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, a society of the Catholic Church. It was founded in Lima, Peru, by Luis Fernando Figari on 8 December 1971. It acquired its canonical form when Pope John Paul II gave his Pontifical approval on 8 July 1997. The Sodalitium was the first male religious society in Peru to receive papal approval, and was enormously influential in Peru. By 1997, there were Sodalit communities in several countries. It was dissolved in 2025 after serious wrongdoing.

The Sodalitium was composed of consecrated laymen and priests, called "Sodalits," who lived in community as brothers and made commitments—not religious vows as such—of celibacy and obedience.

Being recognised as a lay society of apostolic life of pontifical right, the Sodalitium was under the authority of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the Holy See. It was the first lay society of apostolic life to receive pontifical approval.

There were accusations of brainwashing of young people, and of elitism, conservatism, and authoritarianism; and of sexual abuse by founder Luis Fernando Figari and other Sodalites. There were also allegations of right-wing and falangist activism by Figari in his youth. From 2020 there were calls by Church authorities for the Sodalitium to be dissolved due to wrongdoing.

On 14 January 2025, Pope Francis signed the decree suppressing the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae; the Sodalitium expressed deep sorrow and shame for its actions, and requested forgiveness. The decree was formally implemented on 14 April 2025.