The Vatican has announced that it will move forward with the trial of former Jesuit priest and renowned mosaic artist Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik, who faces accusations from more than two dozen women of sexual, spiritual, and psychological abuse. The case, which has shaken the Catholic Church and stained the legacy of Pope Francis, centers on claims that Rupnik used his spiritual authority to exploit women, many of whom worked alongside him on religious art projects. The Vatican’s decision to name a diverse five-member judicial panel—comprising both clergy and laypeople—was presented as an effort to ensure “autonomy and independence” in a case widely criticized for years of institutional inaction. Rupnik’s mosaics adorn major Catholic sites, including shrines in Lourdes, the Vatican, and Brazil, but his fall from grace has exposed deep flaws in how the Church handles abuse allegations involving adults.

Rupnik was briefly excommunicated in 2020 after it was revealed he used the confessional to absolve a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual acts—one of the Church’s most serious offenses. Yet he continued his ministry and artistic work, protected by what many critics call systemic leniency toward powerful clerics. After mounting public outrage, Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations to allow a canonical trial to proceed. Victims have demanded recognition as injured parties, though Church law treats them merely as witnesses, denying them access to documents or participation in proceedings. While Rupnik has not been criminally charged and refuses to comment, his accusers continue to seek justice through both legal and moral accountability. The outcome of his trial could mark a pivotal moment for the Vatican—testing whether the Church’s vows of reform will finally outweigh its long-standing culture of silence and protection.

SOURCE: AP News