Vatican City – It is thanks to the courageous and meticulous work of the editorial team at Silere non possum that we are now able to speak openly about the case of Marko Ivan Rupnik, the former Slovenian Jesuit accused of sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse against several women. A complex affair, entangled with power and money interests, which for years attempted to remain buried under the weight of omertà and institutional complicity.
It all began on 1 December 2022, when Silere non possum published an explosive investigation revealing that Father Rupnik had incurred a latae sententiae excommunication, later lifted by Pope Francis, for having absolved in confession a person with whom he had engaged in sexual relations. That same article also disclosed that there were other allegations against the priest, concerning sexual and psychological abuse, and that no one was willing to initiate proceedings against the powerful Jesuit.
The news sparked shock and outrage, triggering a series of opaque reactions from the Society of Jesus and the Holy See, marked by silence, attempts to cover up, and even efforts to delegitimise those who had had the courage to break the silence. The Rupnik case had in fact been carefully concealed within the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, in the hope that nothing would leak. But the investigation by Silere non possum blew the lid off this complicit silence.
By breaking the wall of silence, Silere non possum faced threats, pressure, personal attacks, and attempts to discredit its work. Yet the investigation pressed forward, delving into every detail, interviewing witnesses, publishing documents, and exposing the complicity and reluctance of some high-ranking Church figures. The Rupnik affair has over time become a symbol of a deep systemic crisis: the inability — or perhaps the deliberate unwillingness — to address allegations with transparency, the tendency to protect reputations and images rather than to seek the truth, and above all the indifference to the pain of the victims, who were ignored for far too long.
What further deepened the scandal was the direct involvement of the Dicastery for Communication, where senior figures such as Paolo Ruffini, Andrea Tornielli, and Matteo Bruni repeatedly acted in ways that effectively defended Rupnik. This behaviour was exacerbated by the fact that many members of the Dicastery were appointed on Rupnik’s recommendation, creating a clear conflict of interest. One need only mention Nataša Govekar, Dario Edoardo Viganò, and others. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the official Vatican News website continued to publish and promote imagesof Rupnik’s works, causing embarrassment and confusion within the Holy See and giving the impression that nothing had happened. A deafening silence that ultimately betrayed the very mission of ecclesial communication.
Panel of Judges Appointed
After years of silence and inadequate responses, something has finally shifted today — 3 July 2025. At the conclusion of the press conference presenting the new liturgical form of the Mass for the Care of Creation, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, announced that an independent panel of judges, external to the Dicastery, has been established to preside over the canonical criminal trial of Marko Ivan Rupnik.
The cardinal explained that this decision was made to avoid any suspicion of bias or interference on the part of the Dicastery. He also acknowledged that the procedural phase is technically delicate, particularly regarding notification of the victims, but assured that work is being carried out with the necessary confidentiality. However, this announcement does not erase the attitude of Pope Francis towards the former Jesuit, nor the stance of many men and women appointed by the Pope precisely due to their association with Rupnik. There is now hope that a fair trial will be held — one that takes all elements into account and hides nothing.
L.A.
Silere non possum