Pope Francis sides with Peruvian villagers who accused Catholic group of trying to steal their land
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Pope Francis on Saturday sided with a group of Peruvian villagers who have complained that companies linked to a powerful South American church group have tried to evict them from their land using lawsuits and obscure land titling schemes.
In a video recorded at his residence in the Vatican, the Pope sent a message of support to members of the San Juan Bautista de Catacaos farmers community in northern Peru, who have been fending off lawsuits from companies associated with the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae since 2014.
“I know what happened to you,” the Pope said in Spanish. “Defend your land and don’t let them steal it.”
The Sodalitium is a lay group that runs schools and spiritual retirement centers in several South American countries, but is also involved in real estate, agriculture and construction companies.
Related articles
California reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 years
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — After massive downpours flooded California’s rivers and packed mountains w2024-05-07Jennifer Connelly wears Louis Vuitton ski
Jennifer Connelly donned head-to-toe Louis Vuitton to attend the premiere of her new Apple TV+ serie2024-05-07USC and UCLA to play two men's basketball games apiece at Big Ten's easternmost schools
ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Southern California and UCLA will play two road games apiece against the Big T2024-05-07Police stop knife attack in central Oslo after man stabs 1 person and threatens others
STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Police in Norway say a man carrying two knives stabbed one person and threa2024-05-07Turkey says it has carried out new airstrikes against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has carried out a new round of airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants i2024-05-07Sarah Snook steps out with her mother and husband to watch her former Succession co
Sarah Snook stepped out with her family to watch her former Succession co-star Brian Cox in his new2024-05-07
atest comment