Vatican City, Oct 27, 2023 / 08:52 am
The Vatican announced Friday that Pope Francis has decided to lift the statute of limitations in the case of Father Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit priest and mosaic artist accused of serious abuses against women.
Following the revelation earlier this week that Rupnik had returned to priestly ministry in a diocese in his native Slovenia despite allegations of sexual abuse, the Holy See Press Office released a statement on Oct. 27 saying that Pope Francis had asked for a review of Rupnik’s case.
“In September the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors brought to the pope’s attention that there were serious problems in the handling of the Father Marko Rupnik case and lack of outreach to victims. Consequently, the Holy Father asked the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to review the case and decided to lift the statute of limitations to allow a process to take place,” it said.
“The pope is firmly convinced that if there is one thing the Church must learn from the Synod [on Synodality] it is to listen attentively and compassionately to those who are suffering, especially those who feel marginalized from the Church.”