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Pope Francis on Thursday condemned “psychological violence and abuse of power” in the Church, as the case of a prominent priest accused of inviting two nuns to participate in a “Holy Trinity” trio has rocked the Vatican.
The 89-year-old pontiff made the apparently scathing comments in his annual Christmas address to cardinals, bishops and other members of the Curia, the Vatican’s central administration.
It comes after Marko Ivan Rupnik, 68, was accused by a former nun of using his ‘psychospiritual’ control over her some three decades ago to have sex, including group sex, and watch pornographic movies.
At the time of the allegations, Rupnik, known in the church for his artwork, was the spiritual director of a convent in Slovenia and the former nun, now 58, described how her complaints against the priest were ignored.
Marko Ivan Rupnik, 68, (pictured) was accused by a former nun of using his ‘psycho-spiritual’ control over her some three decades ago to have sex, including group sex, and watch pornographic movies.
Rupnik, right, is now at the center of a scandal that has engulfed the Jesuits, a Catholic order of priests and brothers, of which Pope Francis, left, is a member.
The Pope said today: “In addition to the violence of weapons, there is also verbal violence, psychological violence, the violence of abuse of power, the hidden violence of gossip.”
He added that no one should “profit from their position and role to degrade others.”
Although the pontiff did not specifically refer to Rupnik, the Jesuit order, of which the pope is a member, has been rocked by allegations against the high-profile priest.
Pope Francis said: ‘There is also verbal violence, psychological violence, the violence of abuse of power, the hidden violence of gossip’
A former nun accused Rupnik of exercising ‘psycho-spiritual’ control over her.
She told Italian investigative newspaper Domani on Sunday: “Father Marko slowly and gently began to enter my psychological and spiritual world, exploiting my uncertainties and fragility and using my relationship with God to push me to have sexual experiences with him.
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The nun claimed that Rupnik had groomed her, had sex with her and harassed her into silence during her time at the Slovenian convent between 1987 and 1994.
It is said that he asked her and another nun to have sex with him, stating that they would replicate the three-way relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
He also said he believed Rupnik had abused up to 20 women.
Although she had made repeated efforts to turn him in, she clashed with the Jesuits and other superiors who routinely protected Rupnik at their expense.
The closed Basilica of Lourdes is pictured on May 8, 2020 in Lourdes, southwestern France. Mosaics by the Reverend Marko Ivan Rupnik decorate several churches and chapels, including the Basilica of Lourdes.
‘It was really an abuse of conscience,
“They should have stopped him 30 years ago,” the woman told Domani.
The Slovenian bishops’ conference broke three weeks of silence with a statement in which churchmen also expressed their solidarity with the victims of the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik and urged anyone wronged by him or any other priest who abused his authority to come forward.
It’s never the victims fault! We are on your side,’ the bishops said.
‘Any misuse of spiritual power and authority to carry out violence against subordinates is an unacceptable and despicable act.’
Under media pressure, the Jesuits acknowledged earlier this month that Rupnik was disciplined at least twice in recent years when alleged victims came forward, but the Vatican’s doctrinal office quietly pardoned him.
The Jesuits have effectively reopened the case, posting a letter on their website on Sunday asking anyone wishing to make new complaints or discuss existing ones to contact them.
The Slovenian priest is relatively unknown among ordinary Catholics, but he is well known in the hierarchy because he is one of the most sought after artists in the church. His mosaics decorate chapels, churches and basilicas around the world.
Rupnik (pictured left), known in the church for his artwork, reportedly received preferential treatment given his talent, as the nun’s complaints were previously ignored.
The case has raised questions about whether Rupnik received preferential treatment given his artistic talents and his status as a famous and sought-after Jesuit at a time when the pope’s order holds a position of influence in the Holy See.
Rupnik’s ministry had been restricted and he was prohibited from hearing confessions, giving spiritual direction, or leading spiritual exercises.
However, he is scheduled to hold spiritual exercises from February 13 to 17 at the Loreto Marian shrine on Italy’s Adriatic coast, according to Loreto’s website.
On Sunday, Rupnik’s immediate superior, the Rev. Johan Verschueren, said he wanted to try to clarify some of the questions that were raised about the case.
In a statement, he called for anyone with old or new allegations to come forward.
“My main concern in all this is for those who have suffered, and I invite anyone who wants to make a new complaint or wants to discuss complaints already made to contact me,” he said.
He said that complaints would be accepted in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and German.