Vatican City – “Your fight for justice is also the Church’s fight. Because, as I wrote years ago, ‘a faith that does not touch the wounds of the human body and soul is a faith that has not yet known the Gospel.’” Just over a month after his election to the papal throne, Pope Leo XIV recently sent a letter to accompany the Proyecto Ugaz. In the text, the Pontiff directly addresses one of the most painful and controversial episodes in the recent history of the Peruvian Church: the abuses linked to the now-suppressed Sodalitium Christianae Vitae.
A Theater Piece That Becomes Denunciation and Memory
The Pope writes in a personal tone, recalling his own missionary past in the Andean country and openly declaring that the theatrical work is not only an artistic expression, but “a form of memory, denunciation, and above all, an act of justice.” The play gives voice to victims and journalists who for years have fought to bring uncomfortable truths to light—truths too often ignored—or actively opposed—by sectors within the Church itself. It’s an attitude that emerges on numerous occasions and that Silere non possum has repeatedly encountered in its own reporting. The Pope exhorts: “Do not be afraid. Be sowers of light amid the shadows.”
Praise for Journalists Under Attack
This text reveals the character of Pope Leo XIV, who explicitly thanks four Peruvian journalists—Paola Ugaz, Pedro Salinas, Daniel Yovera, and Patricia Lachira—for their courage in denouncing the crimes of the Sodalitium. It is an unusual act for a Pope: not only publicly recognizing the work of reporters often targeted by frivolous lawsuits, but also urging the Peruvian authorities to “protect those who inform with integrity and courage.”
Freedom of the press, says Leo XIV, is “an indispensable common good.” His appeal to communicators leaves no room for ambiguity: “Do not be afraid. Be sowers of light amid the shadows.” A clear message, which resounds with particular force in a state where, for years, the Vatican Gendarmerie has illegally intercepted prelates and laypeople, journalists, and employees.
“I wish to thank those who have persevered in this cause, even when they were ignored, discredited, or even pursued through legal means,” the Pope wrote. Unequivocal words, revealing his concern for a free press capable of bringing to light the Church’s wounds without betraying her. A task often carried out by those who love the Church deeply and long to see her become more faithful and more like the face of Christ. That very image—Christ emerging even as we “shoot”—was evoked by Leo XIV during the Holy Mass with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
The Pope’s call for press freedom also comes in the wake of scandals currently shaking the Italian Republic and its Government, accused on multiple fronts of systematically resorting to illegal wiretapping and searches, and of targeting journalists without real legal protection. A trend that has long since crossed national borders, attracting the attention of European and international authorities.
From Wounds to Hope
Pope Leo does not shy away from naming the wounds. He speaks openly of minors, youth, and adults betrayed “where they sought consolation,” and of victims of “economic abuse” like the rural communities of Catacaos and Castilla. But at the same time, he sends a message of hope and conversion: prevention and care are not just strategies, “they are the very heart of the Gospel.”
The “culture of prevention” the Pontiff hopes for is not a pastoral add-on, but “an active vigilance,” composed of “transparent processes and sincere listening.”
Truth Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Leo XIV explicitly recalls the words of Pope Francis from 2018, but adds his own moral imprint: “Truth does not belong to anyone, but it is the responsibility of all.”
The Proyecto Ugaz, in the Pontiff’s words, thus becomes a “prophetic sign” that stirs consciences and calls the Church back to her essence: not power, but service; not impunity, but truth. In a historical period in which the Vatican City State was governed by those who conducted political trials against cardinals, attempted to buy journalists to secure a “glossy” narrative of their pontificate, and allowed the Vatican Gendarmerie and the Promoter of Justice to initiate criminal proceedings with the intent to intimidate free journalists, Leo XIV marks a clear turning point: “Your fight for justice is also the Church’s fight.” A word of encouragement to all who carry out this ministry with love for the Church.
d.C.P.
Silere non possum