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Dioceses and shrines are evaluating ways to address the continued display of works by Slovenian Father Marko Rupnik, following allegations of abuse against him. Despite these allegations, the art center founded by Rupnik, Centro Aletti, is promoting his recent mosaics at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil.
From April 4, Centro Aletti has been displaying "100+ images of the South facade and colonnade" of the Marian shrine on its Instagram page. Father Rupnik, aged 70, was previously excommunicated for a case involving absolution of someone he had a sexual relationship with. The church lifted the excommunication after his repentance. He was later dismissed from the Jesuits in June 2023 after ignoring restrictions related to numerous abuse allegations over 30 years.
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández stated on March 21 that preparations for a canonical trial against Rupnik are progressing. Despite these developments, Centro Aletti has continued to promote both Rupnik's artistic and spiritual work, including a recent e-book, "In the Fire of the Burning Bush: An Initiation to the Spiritual Life."
Some alleged victims of Rupnik have expressed that his artwork is a painful symbol of their abuse. Sister Samuelle, among his accusers, claimed she was abused during the installation of one such mosaic. Various shrines have acted to either obscure or restrict public display of Rupnik’s art following these revelations. Notably, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, France, and the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., have covered the mosaics out of respect for the victims. The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal also suspended usage of imagery from Rupnik’s work.
Conversely, the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil completed the installation of Rupnik’s largest mosaic, ignoring calls to reconsider due to severe allegations.
Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes announced the decision to cover Rupnik’s mosaic at the Lourdes shrine, aiming to enhance the space's inclusivity and particularly accommodate abuse victims. “I felt, along with my colleagues, that a new symbolic step had to be taken," Bishop Micas stated in a March 31 interview with the sanctuary.
Antonia Sobocki of the LOUDFence organization expressed gratitude for the covering of Rupnik's mosaics, marking it as a supportive action for clerical abuse victims. Sobocki declared a campaign in alliance with the Diocese of Plymouth dubbed “Pilgrims of Healing and Hope” to rally support for this initiative.
Sobocki recounted her emotional reaction upon learning about the decision, interpreting it as a significant gesture towards survivors. Messages of gratitude from numerous other survivors followed this decision, regarded by Sobocki as “an act of deliberate care for survivors.”
The "Pilgrims of Healing and Hope" campaign encourages pilgrims to photograph themselves in front of the covered mosaics at Lourdes and share these pictures using specific hashtags, demonstrating solidarity with Rupnik's and other survivors worldwide.
"From the ashes of grief and despair, I believe it is possible to be resurrected to hope and healing," Sobocki concluded.
Junno Arocho Esteves contributes to OSV News from Malmö, Sweden.
