Leo met with British writer Gareth Gore, author of a 2024 book on ​Opus Dei, a Catholic religious community counting about ⁠85,000 members across 70 countries. ⁠In a statement afterwards, Gore said he asked the pope to launch a ⁠formal ‌inquiry into the group. Opus Dei ("Work ⁠of God") ​was founded in 1928 by a Spanish priest and teaches Catholics to strive for holiness through their work. Among ⁠allegations in the book, Gore said the group practices emotional control over its members and uses its influence to perpetrate financial fraud. Opus Dei has ​a strong presence in Peru, where Leo served ‌as a missionary for decades before ​becoming pope.

Source: The Star March 16, 2026 18:25 UTC