CV NEWS FEED // Former Jesuit priest Father Marko Rupnik, credibly accused of sexually abusing numerous women and nuns, has reportedly moved into a convent outside Rome, forcing the resident Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla to vacate.
The Montefiolo convent, located in the Sabina Hills in the province of Rieti, has now become the headquarters for Fr. Rupnik and a group of former Jesuits associated with the Aletti Center, his previous artistic and theological community, according to a March 3 report from the Daily Compass.
Fr. Rupnik was excommunicated in 2020 after using confession to absolve one of the victims of his abuse, being later readmitted after repenting, CatholicVote reported. In June 2023, he was expelled from the Jesuits for refusing to comply with restrictions following abuse allegations.
His continued status as a priest in good standing within a diocese in his native Slovenia sparked public outrage that forced Pope Francis to reopen Fr. Rupnik’s investigation in October 2023.
According to the Daily Compass, visitors attempting to access the Montefiolo convent were denied entry, and local sources indicate the nuns are in the process of leaving. A priest identified as Father Milan Žust, formerly Fr. Rupnik’s superior at the Aletti Center, was seen at the property and confirmed that the convent was being renovated and that the nuns were moving out.
The Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla, known for their embroidery work and production of honey, had previously been active in the local community. However, villagers in nearby Casperia reported that the sisters had become isolated and were no longer visible.
One nun, when contacted by phone, refused to provide details about the situation, only saying, “They don’t want us to let anyone in,” according to the Daily Compass.
Despite widespread outrage over his continued priestly status, Fr. Rupnik has yet to face a full canonical trial. Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), confirmed in January that the Vatican is finally moving forward with legal proceedings.
Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Pope Francis’ former vicar for Rome, has been linked to the transfer to the Montefiolo convent. Cardinal De Donatis had previously dismissed allegations against Rupnik and praised the Aletti Center even after multiple abuse claims surfaced, the Daily Compass reported. The Cardinal is also reported to have built a private residence on the convent’s grounds.