Vatican clears Father Marko Rupnik of violence charges amid ongoing abuse investigation

A five‑judge panel of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has acquitted former Jesuit priest Marko Ivan Rupnik of all charges of “violence” linked to alleged sexual abuse, according to Italian media reports. The Vatican has not publicly confirmed the ruling, and the tribunal has not addressed other abuse accusations that remain under investigation.

Victims’ lawyer Laura Sgro has issued a letter demanding transparency, noting that the court has provided no information about the trial’s status, the judges involved, or why the alleged victims have not been invited to testify. The case, which has drawn international attention, involves claims that Rupnik abused nuns and men over several decades and that his distinctive religious art was created using victims as models. Pope Francis delegated the matter to the Dicastery in 2023, and the secrecy of the Vatican’s legal process has prompted criticism from victims and observers.

While the acquittal pertains only to the “violence” charge, other allegations of sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse continue to be examined, and a further canonical case may be prepared against Rupnik.