Alleged victims of Father Rupnik praise Lourdes, Knights of Columbus

Gloria Branciani, a former religious sister of the Loyola Community, discusses the sexual, spiritual and psychological abuse she said she suffered by Father Marko Rupnik, her spiritual director and confessor, during a news conference at the Italian National Press Federation in Rome Feb. 21, 2024. Mirjam Kovac (right), also a former religious sister and now academic lecturer, testified against Father Rupnik during his first canonical trial, in which she accused the priest of abuse, and community superior Ivanka Hosta of cover-up.(CNS photo/Justin McLellan)

TURIN, Italy (OSV News) — Alleged victims of Father Marko Rupnik welcomed the decisions of the Knights of Columbus and Lourdes sanctuary regarding the ex-Jesuit’s mosaics, saying they are “grateful.” “Words are not enough to show solidarity with the victims; actions are needed,” one of the women told OSV News.

The Knights of Columbus announced on July 11 the Catholic fraternal organization will cover mosaics by Father Rupnik at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington and the Holy Family Chapel at the Knights’ headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut.

Knights of Columbus and Lourdes sanctuary decisions​

The Knights said the decision came at “the conclusion of a careful and thorough process.”


The mosaics will be obscured by fabric “which will remain in place at least until the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) issues its decision on the pending sexual abuse cases against artist Father Marko Rupnik.”

In Lourdes, where Father Rupnik’s mosaics cover the facade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, though the mosaics will stay for now, the sanctuary announced on July 2, “it will eventually be necessary” to remove them, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes said.

In the meantime, they will not be lit “during the Marian procession that brings pilgrims together every evening. This is a first step,” the bishop said.


“It’s a gesture to the victims, pending further action,” the sanctuary’s press officer, Marie Etcheverry, told OSV News on July 3.

“I welcome any choice made regarding Rupnik’s art in support of victims. I am grateful for the words of care for our hurt feelings of abuse,” Gloria Branciani, a former sister of the Loyola Community said. Branciani has said that she was psychologically, spiritually and sexually abused by the artist in the 1990s.

Ongoing investigation and Church actions​

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