Pope Leo XIV has issued a powerful statement supporting press freedom and calling for a “culture of zero tolerance” toward abuse within the Catholic Church. His message was read during a theatrical performance in Lima, Peru, honouring investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, who has been targeted for her work exposing abuse within the Church.
The performance, Proyecto Ugaz, centers on Ugaz’s years-long investigation into the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a controversial lay Catholic group that was officially suppressed by Pope Francis in April 2024 due to widespread allegations of abuse and corruption. Ugaz, along with fellow journalist Pedro Salinas, co-authored a 2015 exposé that triggered state and Church investigations. Since then, she has endured legal harassment and online abuse.
In his message, Pope Leo XIV praises Proyecto Ugaz not just as art, but as a profound act of “memory, protest, and justice,” giving voice to victims who have long been silenced. He underscores the Church’s responsibility to confront abuse, stating:
“We must root out all forms of abuse in the Church—of power, conscience, spirituality, and sexuality. A culture of prevention is not optional.”
The Pope commends journalists like Ugaz for their courage in pursuing truth, noting that silencing them is a threat to democracy and contrary to the Gospel’s call for justice.
“Wherever a journalist is silenced, the democratic soul of a nation is weakened,” he writes.
His message—read aloud at the performance by Msgr. Jordi Bertomeu of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith—reaffirms the Church’s obligation to stand with victims and truth-tellers. Referring to Ugaz and others who uncovered abuses within the Sodalitium, the Pope writes:
“The victims and the journalists who stood by them reflect the wounded but hopeful face of the Church. Their fight for justice is the Church’s fight too.”
The Pope highlights the importance of true reform within the Church—one based not on rhetoric but on action, humility, and reparation:
“Prevention and care are not merely strategies—they are at the heart of the Gospel.”
He also directly acknowledges Paola Ugaz’s bravery in meeting Pope Francis in 2022, where she sought protection for herself and fellow journalists Pedro Salinas, Daniel Yovera, and Patricia Lachira. Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded Francis, has continued and deepened this support. In a May 2025 meeting with journalists, he warmly embraced Ugaz, an encounter symbolized by her gift of a traditional Andean scarf.
The Pope also recognizes the broader damage caused by the Sodalitium, including financial harm to communities such as Catacaos and Castilla. He calls on Peruvian society—government, media, and citizens alike—to defend the integrity of ethical journalism.
“The truth does not belong to anyone. It is everyone’s responsibility to seek it, preserve it, and serve it.”
He concludes with a message of hope and encouragement to Peru’s journalists and communicators:
“Do not be afraid. You are builders of peace and unity. Be sowers of light in the shadows.”
Pope Leo XIV’s statement is both a condemnation of abuse and a call for transformation—within the Church, society, and the media. His message aligns with the core themes of Proyecto Ugaz: accountability, justice, and the power of speaking truth.