El papa León XIV llamó este jueves en Perú a la “reparación” frente a los “abusos” cometidos en la Iglesia, durante un discurso a los obispos locales. Pocas horas más tarde, recibió a seis víctimas que denunciaron abusos por parte de miembros del clero en el país en una reunión que, según el Vaticano, duró más de una hora.

El pontífice, operado hace un mes de un cáncer de pulmón, llegó el miércoles a Perú, donde vivió casi dos décadas, en la última etapa de una intensa gira de 12 días por Sudamérica que incluyó a Uruguay y Argentina.

Las principales acusaciones de abusos en el país recaen sobre el Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana, una agrupación ultraconservadora de laicos y sacerdotes disuelta por orden del fallecido papa Francisco en abril de 2025.

Al evocar una “realidad que nos ha causado tanto dolor”, León XIV pidió en la reunión con los obispos de Perú responder a “los abusos perpetrados por miembros del clero o en el contexto eclesial (…) con la verdad, con justicia, con perdón, con reparación”.

También se manifestó por “un compromiso cada vez más decidido a favor de una cultura de la prevención y protección de los más débiles frente a estos delitos”.

León XIV podría reunirse con víctimas en Perú. El lunes, en su reciente visita en Argentina, se entrevistó con cinco víctimas de abusos sexuales cometidos por el clero.

El caso Sodalicio

Antes de su discurso, el Papa se detuvo en la iglesia de las Nazarenas, en el centro de Lima, y oró frente al Señor de los Milagros, una figura religiosa muy venerada en Perú. Allí saludó a los fieles y bendijo a personas en sillas de ruedas.

“Se deben investigar los casos de abusos (…). Todo eso debe frenarse, se debe cortar de raíz”, dijo Irma Grimaldo, una fiel de 71 años acompañada de su hija.

Tras el impulso de las investigaciones ordenadas por Francisco contra el Sodalicio de la Vida Cristiana, León XIV tomó la posta.

La orden reconoció que miembros de su cúpula abusaron sexualmente de 19 menores y 10 mayores entre 1975 y 2002. Fue disuelta por Jrhe Bergoglio en 2025.

En mayo de 2026, el Vaticano instaló en Lima un “canal de escucha” para las víctimas de abusos sexuales, físicos, psicológicos, económicos, entre otros, para fijar indemnizaciones con los bienes que se le incautaron al Sodalicio.

Perú

After U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz issued a letter ordering Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to preserve materials pertaining to the lawmaker’s alleged «intent to deny citizens of their core constitutional rights,» the senator responded in kind by ordering Reitz to preserve materials pertaining to the decision to issue his letter.

«In recent weeks, you have threatened citizens for associating themselves with the President and other public officials,» Reitz claimed in his letter to Blumenthal Wednesday.

A footnote points to an October Blumenthal press release about the senator issuing letters demanding information from individuals and the heads of companies that the Washington Post indicated had committed donations for the construction of President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom project.

«It is also extraordinary for an elected official to intimidate citizens for engaging in philanthropic practices that will benefit our nation for generations. The American people are entitled to freely associate without elected officials terrorizing them with aggressive, harassing government action,» Reitz wrote.

TOP DEM ON COMMITTEE FIRES BACK AFTER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL WARNS AGAINST OVERREACH AMID INVESTIGATION THREATS

«I therefore write to formally give you notice of your obligation to preserve all documents, communications, and other electronically stored information relevant to your intent to deprive citizens of their core constitutional rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242. 

«You are obligated to preserve all potentially relevant evidence related to your efforts to suppress associational activities for philanthropic projects throughout the nation’s capital,» the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas demanded.

Blumenthal, the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, fired back in a letter to Reitz also dated Nov. 11.

«I am aware of your letter, posted to X today, which purports to initiate an investigation into me for conducting a congressional inquiry. This is just the latest in a series of unlawful actions on the part of the Trump Administration attempting to intimidate Members of Congress for engaging in constitutionally protected activity. Your implied threat of an investigation is baseless,» the senator wrote.

‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH

«As incoming Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I will not be intimidated. I will work on behalf of the American people to vigorously pursue investigations into this Administration’s misuse of taxpayer dollars and any corporate entity that has enabled its boundless corruption,» Blumenthal continued.

«The public deserves to know the terms under which dozens of American companies were persuaded to donate millions of dollars to the President’s vanity projects, and whether lawsuits were dismissed, contracts were awarded, or regulations went unenforced in exchange for that money.

«The public deserves transparency about whether the White House and the corporations it cajoled extracted favors at the expense of American taxpayers. Not only are these appropriate subjects for congressional oversight, but such inquiries are among the constitutional duties that Members of Congress must undertake to become informed about matters on which legislation may be necessary.»

Then in a tit-for-tat, the senator ordered Reitz to retain all materials related to the decision to issue his letter.

RO KHANNA REJECTS WARNINGS THAT TRUMP ADMIN INVESTIGATIONS COULD DERAIL DEMOCRATS’ AFFORDABILITY AGENDA

«Since you appear to have evidence of the Trump Administration’s efforts to protect corporate donors and Administration officials from legitimate oversight, I accordingly direct you to preserve all records and correspondence, including all communications with the White House or senior officials at the Department of Justice, related to the decision to draft and post your letter,» Blumenthal wrote.

The White House did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment Thursday.

politics, senate, donald trump, white house

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is set to take the reins of the House GOP in the next Congress, and his fellow Republicans are quickly rallying to tout him as the best person for the job.

The current House Judiciary Committee chairman has enjoyed a high profile in the media for years, long known as a bomb-thrower ever since he helped found the conservative House Freedom Caucus in 2015.

Because a House minority leader’s primary job is to lead counter-messaging against the majority’s agenda, Republican lawmakers are arguing Jordan is in a prime position to be throwing bombs at the other side — potentially weakening the Democratic majority’s own argument to keep the House in 2028.

«Right now, our goal is to stop bad ideas. And I think Jim will do a great job of articulating just how wild some of these ideas are,» Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., told Digital.

LONGTIME GOP LEADER FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER JIM JORDAN WINS HOUSE LEADERSHIP FIGHT

Haridopolos is a longtime ally of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., who notably lost this week’s internal House GOP leadership election to Jordan by a 106 to 73 margin, sources told Digital.

But even Scalise’s supporters have quickly rallied behind Jordan since Tuesday’s race.

«Republicans took a hard hit last week, but now it’s time to come together and get back to work. I’m ready to help Jim and our team speak to every voter we need to win the majority back in 2028,» Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas, who told Digital he would vote for Scalise, posted on X after the election of Jordan.

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., a Jordan ally, noted the incoming minority leader has had experience sparring with Democrats on the Oversight and Judiciary committees, which will likely play a prime role in investigating — and potentially impeaching — members of the Trump administration.

«That’s going to wear thin in a hurry,» Fitzgerald said of Democrats’ plans. «[Jordan] understands it, because we’ve been on the other side of it.»

HAKEEM JEFFRIES DECLARES BID FOR HOUSE SPEAKER AFTER GOP’S MIDTERM MASSACRE

In his six years as head Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Jordan has cemented his reputation as a capable bulldog for President Donald Trump and the GOP. He’s known for asking sharp, pointed questions of Democrat-leaning witnesses and spearheading investigations into justice officials who Republicans accuse of blocking Trump’s agenda.

«He definitely brings that athletic mentality to committee hearings. What you’re gonna see in press conferences, you’ll see it on the floor,» said Russell Dye, a longtime former aide to Jordan. 

«You’re gonna have a guy that’s not just gonna lay down, he’s going to get out there, attack, attack, attack, and do it in a way though, that normal Americans understand.»

«He’s a fighter,» Dye said.

‘LAWYER UP’: DEMS IMMEDIATELY PUT TRUMP ON NOTICE AMID REPUBLICANS’ MIDTERM BLOODBATH

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., who will be going into the next Congress as Jordan’s No. 2, compared him to the «Energizer bunny» and praised him as a «decision-maker.»

And the Ohio Republican himself signaled that he sees his role as directing the voice of the opposition against a likely barrage of Democratic probes.

MIKE JOHNSON NOT RUNNING TO LEAD HOUSE GOP AFTER HISTORIC MIDTERM LOSSES

Jordan told «Hannity» on Wednesday night that Republicans would heavily focus their pushback during committee meetings, where those investigations and impeachment efforts traditionally start.

«[Democrats are] just attacking their political opposition, but it’ll be across the board in every single committee,» Jordan said. «And we are committed, as House Republicans, to pushing back and giving the facts and the truth to the American people.»

But House Freedom Caucus Chairman Jordan and Minority Leader Jordan will be very different people, Republicans around him have said.

The Ohio Republican has traded his days of publicly criticizing fellow GOP lawmakers in for public calls for unity, something sources said he stressed in his argument to win the leadership role last week.

«He’s evolved. He’s been a mouthpiece for the party,» Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., said. «He’s intelligent. … He’s the right messenger for the right time, and he’s been setting himself up for this for decades.»

But it remains to be seen if that pragmatism will extend to deal-making with Democrats.

«I think so,» said Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., when asked if Jordan would be a good negotiator with the other party. «He’s got the president on his side.»

politics, jim jordan, house of representatives politics, steve scalise, republicans