The DDF’s communique stated that the judges, composed of “women and clerics who are not part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and who do not hold any office in the dicasteries of the Roman Curia,”
Newsroom (14/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) On Monday, October 13, 2025, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) announced the appointment of a five-judges panel to adjudicate the case of Father Marko Rupnik, a Slovenian priest and celebrated artist accused of serial sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse of at least 40 women, primarily religious sisters. The move comes after years of controversy and delays, as outlined in a timeline of the case, which has drawn intense scrutiny for the Catholic Church’s handling of high-profile abuse allegations.
The DDF’s communique stated that the panel, composed of “women and clerics who are not part of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and who do not hold any office in the dicasteries of the Roman Curia,” was selected to ensure “autonomy and independence” in the judicial process. While the Vatican did not clarify whether the procedure will be a full canonical trial or an expedited administrative process, sources familiar with the case told Crux that all judges are European, facilitating coordination for what is expected to be a complex and lengthy proceeding given Rupnik’s prominence and the case’s global attention.
Rupnik, 70, a former Jesuit, is accused of abusing dozens of women, most of whom were members of the Loyola Community he co-founded in Slovenia in the 1980s. His status as one of the Catholic Church’s most prolific modern artists, with mosaics adorning major sites like the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France and Vatican chapels, has amplified the case’s visibility and sparked debate over the Church’s response to abuse allegations involving influential figures.
Timeline of the Rupnik Case
- 1980s: Marko Rupnik, a Slovenian Jesuit, co-founds the Loyola Community in Slovenia, where he allegedly begins a pattern of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse of religious women under his direction.
- 2018: Rupnik is investigated for the alleged abuse of a woman in the 1990s. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) imposes a temporary ministry ban and issues a decree of excommunication for absolving an accomplice in a sexual sin, which is lifted after Rupnik’s repentance.
- 2021: Nine former Loyola Community members lodge complaints with the Vatican, detailing Rupnik’s alleged abuse, during the pontificate of Pope Francis, a fellow Jesuit.
- October 2022: Allegations against Rupnik become public, as reported by Gaudium Press and other outlets. The CDF, then led by Cardinal Luis Ladaria, declines to open a formal inquiry, citing a statute of limitations on the abuse of adults, despite such provisions being waived in other cases.
- December 2022: The Jesuit order bars Rupnik from ministry, restricts his travel and art commissions, and invites additional victims to come forward, yielding 15 new complaints.
- June 2023: Rupnik is expelled from the Jesuit order for disobedience after refusing to cooperate with an internal investigation.
- September 2023: Pope Francis meets a key Rupnik ally who publicly dismissed the allegations as a “lynching.” Days later, the Diocese of Rome clears Rupnik’s Centro Aletti, his Rome-based art studio, of wrongdoing. Rupnik, now incardinated in the Diocese of Koper, Slovenia, appears to resume ministry unimpeded.
- October 2023: Facing massive public backlash, Pope Francis waives the statute of limitations, authorizing a canonical investigation into Rupnik’s alleged abuses.
- Late 2024: American Archbishop John Kennedy, secretary of the DDF’s Disciplinary Section, states that the inquiry is in an advanced stage.
- May 2025: DDF Prefect Cardinal Victor Fernandez acknowledges delays in appointing judges, citing challenges in finding suitable candidates due to the case’s intense media scrutiny.
- October 13, 2025: The DDF announces the appointment of a five-judge panel to hear the case, marking the latest step in a process that has frustrated victims and advocates.
Ongoing Controversies and Challenges
The appointment of an all-European panel may streamline proceedings but raises questions about regional judicial approaches. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland often adopt a more prosecutorial stance in abuse cases, while Spain, Italy, and Portugal tend to emphasize due process, potentially leading to a more cautious approach. Should the case proceed as a full canonical trial, a verdict could take months, further prolonging a process that has already left victims and faithful exasperated.
The case has also reignited debate over Rupnik’s artwork, which until recently remained visible on Vatican websites, including that of the Dicastery for Communications. The dicastery’s prefect, Paolo Ruffini, has previously downplayed the allegations, noting they do not involve minors. The dicastery also employs Natasa Govekar, a Slovenian who worked closely with Rupnik at the Centro Aletti, adding complexity to the Vatican’s response.
Under the new pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the Church faces mounting pressure to deliver justice in a case that has exposed systemic challenges in addressing abuse allegations against prominent figures. The judicial panel’s formation signals progress, but with no timeline for a verdict, many remain skeptical. As the Vatican navigates this high-stakes case, its outcome will likely shape perceptions of the Church’s commitment to accountability and reform.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Crux Now
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