Lawyer for women accusing Slovenian priest criticizes Vatican handling of trial

A lawyer for five women who accuse Slovenian priest Marko Rupnik of abuse said they feel abandoned and betrayed by the Vatican's handling of judicial proceedings against him.

Laura Sgro, who represents the five women, said the lack of information in the case was staggering. She filed a complaint with the Holy See in April 2024 on behalf of five women, including women from France, Italy and Slovenia.

Rupnik, 71, is an influential priest and mosaic artist whose works decorate well-known shrines. He is accused of psychological and sexual violence against at least 20 women over nearly 30 years, mainly within a now-dissolved religious group he led in Ljubljana.

The Vatican closed the case in 2022 without an investigation, citing a statute of limitations, but the late Pope Francis had it reopened. In October, the Vatican announced the appointment of five judges to the tribunal in charge of a canonical trial, without saying when it would open.

Sgro said she had received no information despite numerous phone calls, emails and registered letters, and said the cases could not proceed in lay courts because the alleged crimes occurred too long ago.

After an Italian blog reported that Rupnik had been acquitted in secrecy, Vatican press office director Matteo Bruni said there had been no decision and that the case was still under review. The Vatican said in a statement that, during a trial, no information about ongoing activity can be disclosed out of respect for the proceeding and to avoid harming anyone.

The case has renewed criticism of the Catholic Church's handling of sexual violence cases. The source said canonical procedures leave victims largely on the sidelines, without access to the case file or detailed monitoring of the procedure. Sgro said transparency must remain the priority for victims and for the Church, while adding that she remains hopeful.

Since his election in May 2025, Pope Leo XIV has met victims of sexual violence but has not announced major measures in this area. Asked about the case in November, he said judicial procedures take time and that while asking victims for patience is difficult, the Church must respect everyone's rights.

The issue could return to attention during Leo's planned visit to Lourdes in September. The shrine has decided to conceal Rupnik's monumental works in response to calls from victims.