VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In a letter sent to about 20 women who said they were abused by the Slovenian artist and former Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik, the Jesuit order on Tuesday (March 25) offered to start a “process of healing” based on recognizing the order’s own responsibility and a lack of justice.
The letter, signed by the Rev. Johan Verschueren, the delegate of the Father General for the Interprovincial Roman Houses and Works, stated the Jesuit order is “uneasy” with the situation and is aware “that the various kinds of violence suffered at the time are compounded by the pain caused by the lack of listening and justice for many years.”
Verschueren wrote he has “confidence that a process of healing and inner reconciliation is possible, provided there is also a path of truth and recognition on our part.”
At least five women have sought legal representation because they say they suffered sexual or psychological abuse in the 1980s by Rupnik, a renowned artist with over 200 mosaics displayed at some of the most famous religious sites in the world. Some of the women say Rupnik sexually abused them while he was creating his artwork and that he manipulated them into having sex with other women to imitate the Holy Trinity.
In an email to RNS on Wednesday, Verschueren said the original letters to the alleged victims will not be made public “out of respect for the people who were hurt.” The Associated Press reported that letters were sent to about 20 women. Excerpts were shared by their lawyer, Laura Sgrò, in a statement on Wednesday.
“It is imperative, at this point, that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith take advantage of the example of the Society of Jesus and bring Marko Rupnik to trial as soon as possible, restoring dignity to the victims,” the statement shared by Sgrò read.
The cases have passed the statute of limitations for civil courts, but Pope Francis lifted the statute in 2023 and called for a Vatican investigation.
Rupnik was briefly excommunicated in 2020 for participating in the absolution of a religious sister he had sexual relations with, but it was lifted a month later. The Jesuit order dismissed Rupnik in 2023 amid the abuse allegations, but no information has been shared about the state of the canonical trial. He remains a priest.
The Jesuits “offered Marko Rupnik the opportunity to take responsibility for his actions, to repent, to ask for forgiveness and to begin a path of purification and therapy,” the Jesuit order letter stated. “Following his stubborn refusal to submit to this possibility, the Father General made the decision to dismiss him.”
In the statement shared by Sgrò, the accusers thanked Verschueren “who, with great courage and humility, acknowledging the mistakes made thus far, have finally welcomed and embraced the victims of Marko Rupnik, offering them the support that had been lacking until now.”
In the statement, the accusers said the Jesuits’ letter is “a clear, strong and concrete gesture” that will give hope to all victims of abuse.
Verschueren told RNS each letter asked the alleged victims what they needed and how the Jesuit order could offer support.
“Any eventual journey toward reparation will depend entirely on the person who was invited,” he said of the accusers, specifying that any concrete action would happen later. He added that the Jesuit order wants to ensure privacy of the alleged victims and that’s why it won’t share further information on any dialogue with them.
“We wrote the letter because we, too, need reparation and healing. We have a lot to learn from them, and to do better in the future, to avoid any type of abuse in the company of Jesus,” he wrote.
On Tuesday, a report by the Italian television program “Le Iene” introduced a new woman named Klara who said she was sexually abused by Rupnik. In a video showing only her mouth speaking, she said she was approached by Rupnik in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 1980, when she was 16 years old. She later joined the Loyola community co-founded by Rupnik in Slovenia. The Vatican dissolved the community in December 2023, finding “serious problems” in its governance.
“After a spiritual retreat, he said goodbye to me as well and hugged me tight. He kissed me this way and said ‘I only do this for you,’” Klara said, her voice altered for the report. She said Rupnik’s abuse continued for a long time and he became increasingly demanding, eventually asking her to have sex with another woman.
“At least 10 women I know have experienced very similar situations, all in the same community,” she said.
Klara also said the church did nothing to address the allegations of abuse.
“It didn’t react, it only covered up,” said Klara, who is among the women legally represented by Sgrò in the canonical trial.
Rupnik is currently residing in a convent of the Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla near Rieti, Italy, with members of his community.
