Marko Rupnik, the world-famous Slovenian priest and artist, will finally face a formal canonical trial at the Vatican over serious allegations of sexual, spiritual and power abuse against nuns of the Loyola community of Ljubljana.
The scandal, which began in the 1980s, shook the Catholic Church. Although the initial accusations faced a statute of limitations, Pope Francis ordered the statute of limitations lifted to allow the trial to proceed.
Latest development in the process
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has announced the appointment of the five judges who will make up the Tribunal in charge of this case.
To guarantee the autonomy and independence of the investigation, the tribunal will be composed of women and clerics who do not hold any office in the Dicastery or in other bodies of the Roman Curia.
Context of the case
The victims allege that Rupnik, known for his mosaics in shrines around the world (including the Vatican), used his position as spiritual director to commit the abuses.
Rupnik was expelled from the Society of Jesus in June 2023 for his "obstinate refusal to respect the vow of obedience" and the precautionary measures imposed on him.
The case has generated a huge debate about what to do with Rupnik's many works of art. Some shrines, such as the one in Lourdes, have chosen to cover or de-illuminate their mosaics in solidarity with the victims.
The victims of the former Jesuit, to whom the Society of Jesus has offered a process of reparation, have been waiting for years for justice, a step that now seems to be realized with the formation of this Tribunal. Rupnik has not publicly responded to the accusations.
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