“Roma loquitur, confusio augetur,” Rome speaks, the confusion grows. The critical quip of Cardinal George Pell has been duly confirmed in the interview that Pope Francis gave on January 24 to Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press.
When asked about the case of the Jesuit Marko Ivan Rupnik, Francis replied that he had “nothing to do” with it and that it came as “a big surprise” to hear the news. But he also provided elements of the story that were unknown before, and of no small importance, in particular that “there was an agreement” and “compensation was paid.”
This was the first time the pope had said anything about the Rupnik case since it came to light at the beginning of last December. Breaking a silence that was all the more inexplicable the more one knew about the very close ties, for years, between him and that Jesuit.
To unravel the enigma of this silence, and of the words just spoken, all that remains is to summarize their features as known so far, in four scenes with an intermission.
SCENE ONE
It was January 3 2022, and Francis received Rupnik in audience, complete with a notice in the official bulletin and photos (see above).
Two years before, on March 6 2020, the pope had also entrusted him with the task of giving the first Lenten meditation for himself and for the top officials of the Vatican curia gathered to listen to him in the Sala Clementina of the Apostolic Palace.
Until two months ago, Rupnik had a stellar reputation. A Slovenian, age 68, he was known and admired all over the world as a top-ranking artist, the author of spectacular mosaic creations both in Rome, in the chapel of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, and in Fatima, San Giovanni Rotondo, and many other cities. He also had a reputation as a spiritual teacher, of refined theological training, in dialogue between West and East, a disciple of the illustrious Jesuit and cardinal Tomás Spidlik (1919-2010). In his art studio in Rome he lived together with a community of consecrated women that he founded, inspired, and directed.
But pay attention to the dates. Because these two events, the audience and the preaching, crossed paths with two trials that in the meantime, in secret, were underway against Rupnik at the Vatican.
READ ON BELOW…
Rupnik Has an Invincible Advocate, the Pope – Settimo Cielo – Blog – L’Espresso
Rupnik Has an Invincible Advocate, the Pope – Settimo Cielo – Blog – L’Espresso
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