Luis Fernando Figari was born in the city of Lima (Peru), on July 8 th , 1947.
His parents were Mr. Alberto Figari Ríos (1902-1990) and Mrs. Blanca Rosa de Figari (1909-1995). He studied in the "Immaculate Heart of Mary elementary school and got his high school degree at the "Colegio Santa María" (Saint Mary High School) in the city of Lima.
At age 7 he received the sacrament of Reconciliation, made his First Communion and received the Sacrament of Confirmation in a Eucharistic celebration presided over by his Excellency Juan Landázuri Rickets, then Archbishop of Lima. In that occasion, following the tradition of adding to his name another name with occasion of Confirmation, Luis Fernando asked to be confirmed with the name of Joseph, for his devotion to the Holy Custodian.
At age 19, Luis Fernando greeted Robert Kennedy in name of the Limean university students in the "Encounter with University Students" in the capital city of Peru.
After concluding his high school studies he studied Liberal Arts and Law in the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and then in the National Major University of San Marcos. Later on he studied Theology in the Pontifical and Civil School of Theology of Lima.
After several attempts in the field of politics and philosophy, he found the light of faith as guidance for his deep questions. In his journey seeking for answers to the key questions of existence he realized that the essential element in human life is religion. His conversion process finds a zenith in the foundation of the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae , in 1971, a moment that he likes to call "the baptism of a search".
At age 24 he found a lack of esteem towards the Social Doctrine of the Church, which since age 16 he had considered essential for a just social renewal and for respecting human's rights and dignity. Therefore, in a short time he became a herald of the Church's social teachings, which granted him the bitter animosity of institutions such as "Tradition, Family and Property" that regarded him as a "disguised communist".
In 1974 he founds the "Association of Mary Immaculate" (AMI) for women. In 1975, the Sodalitium starts to find a way that will lead it to become a Society of Apostolic Life, approved by Pope John Paul II, in 1997.
After being invited by the Holy Father to participate in World Youth Day in 1984, and having delivered a Catechesis on Love at Saint Paul's Basilica in Rome, he founded the Christian life Movement (CLM) in 1985. In 1994 the Holy See approved the CLM as an International Association of Pontifical Right.
In 1991 he founded the Marian Community of Reconciliation, for women called to live a lay consecrated life. In 1995 he founded the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Reconciliation, dedicated to a Marian devotion closely bound to the Sodalit spirituality.
Later, in 1998, he founded another religious association for women, the Servants of the Plan of God, that is already well known by their navy blue habit.
In 1994 Luis Fernando Figari was elected as Superior General of the newly approved Diocesan Society of Apostolic Life. In 2000 he was reelected, but this time as Superior General of the first male Society of Apostolic Life approved by a Pope in the 500 years of the country where it first flourished.
Now the Sodalit Family is formed by thousands of people, men and women of every age, and is extended throughout several countries of America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The members of this big spiritual family are mostly lay men and women, with nearly 800 in consecrated life.
In the year 2002 the Founder of the Sodalitium was named by Pope John Paul II as a Counselor of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
In 2005 he was designated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to participate in the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, that took place in Rome in October 2005.
