Marko Rupnik Still Listed as Jesuit and Vatican Consultant Despite Abuse Allegations

Father Marko Rupnik, a Slovenian priest who was removed from the Society of Jesus in 2023 over allegations of serious sexual, spiritual, and psychological abuse against at least 20 women, continues to be listed as a Jesuit and Vatican consultant in the 2024 Pontifical Yearbook. The information about Rupnik's continued listing appears on page 1346 of the yearbook with the list of consultants of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Rupnik was expelled from the Jesuits in July 2023 following accusations from multiple victims in the Loyola Community he co-founded in Slovenia. Despite his dismissal and the claims against him, Rupnik's artwork remains in many pilgrimage sites, sparking debate over whether it should be removed. The Vatican investigator who uncovered the abuse allegations confirmed they are true, and Pope Francis has lifted the statute of limitations to allow a reexamination of the case due to concerns over how it was handled and the lack of outreach to victims.

The Knights of Columbus council in Washington, D.C. has called for the elimination of Rupnik's mosaics from the St. John Paul II National Shrine, which the Knights established in 2011. The council has also requested a public apology from the Knights' leadership to Rupnik's abuse survivors for the organization's inaction in addressing the issue. Rupnik's mosaics have been installed in the Vatican and numerous churches worldwide, including the Redemptor Hominis Church and the Luminous Mysteries Chapel at the St. John Paul II National Shrine.

Why this matters: The case of Father Marko Rupnik highlights the ongoing challenges the Catholic Church faces in addressing clergy sexual abuse and holding abusers accountable. The discrepancy between Rupnik's dismissal from the Jesuits and his continued listing in official Vatican publications raises questions about the Church's commitment to transparency and justice for abuse survivors.

Rupnik was incardinated into the Diocese of Koper, Slovenia in October 2023 and remains on the staff of the Centro Aletti, the scholarly and artistic center he founded in Rome in 1993. The shrine's website does not credit Rupnik for the mosaics, although it names sculptor Edoardo Ferrari, whose work appears in the church. As the Vatican continues to grapple with the consequences from the Rupnik case, abuse survivors and their advocates are calling for greater accountability and concrete actions to prevent future abuses and support victims.

Key Takeaways

• Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik was removed from Jesuits in 2023 for abuse allegations.
• Rupnik remains listed as a Vatican consultant in 2024 Pontifical Yearbook despite dismissal.
• Rupnik's artwork remains in pilgrimage sites, sparking debate over removal.
• Knights of Columbus call for removal of Rupnik's mosaics from St. John Paul II Shrine.
• Case highlights the Church's challenges in addressing clergy abuse and holding abusers accountable.