Nunciature: No papal event for Paris Rupnik chapel; bishop confirms pope ordered Vatican News Rupnik ban

11:23 PM ETDeveloping

Faith Desk

The confirmation came as French media confirmed with the bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes that Pope Leo XIV ordered the removal of artwork created by Father Marko Rupnik that was used on the Vatican News website. According to the Aug. 27 report by Paris Match, the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Paris, where Pope Leo will be staying during his visit, has been closed since the start of the Slovenian priest’s canonical trial.

In the interview with Paris Match, which was published in full Aug. 31, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said that during a private audience in June 2025, the pope made his willingness to resolve the matter regarding the controversial priest’s artwork “very clearly.

Responding to a request for comment by OSV News, the apostolic nunciature in Paris said that “no celebration by the Holy Father is scheduled during the Apostolic Visit to France. In the interview, Bishop Micas also said the Vatican agreed with his decision to cover all mosaics at the basilica ahead of the pope’s France Sept. 25-28 visit to France.

The quiet removal of the artwork from Vatican News, which was used to mark major feast days online, was noted in June 2025, nearly a month after Pope Leo’s election. The chapel, which features Father Rupnik’s artwork, including a depiction of St. Irenaeus of Lyon, will remain closed until a verdict is announced, after which a decision will be made on whether the artwork will be covered or removed.

Speaking with OSV News July 24 , Bishop Micas said he was motivated to cover the mosaics after several meetings with victims of sexual abuse, including victims allegedly abused by the Slovenian priest. Pope Leo, he said, “immediately asked me how Lourdes was handling this issue” and expressed his support for “the way we have approached things,” following Lourdes’ covering of the priest’s mosaics at the entrance of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The victims “told me their story with Marko Rupnik … how he abused them,” he said, noting that they described the abuse taking place in “the process of the making of the mosaics, on the places where they were creating the mosaics.

Before publishing the full text of the interview, Paris Match published an article in its weekly magazine, which was subsequently reported on by the Catholic Herald Aug. 27. One victim, identified as Sister Samuelle , recounted that she was abused by Father Rupnik while installing one of his mosaics.

What's confirmed

What's still developing

The confirmation came as French media confirmed with the bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes that Pope Leo XIV ordered the removal of artwork created by Father Marko Rupnik that was used on the Vatican News website.
In the interview with Paris Match, which was published in full Aug. 31, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said that during a private audience in June 2025, the pope made his willingness to resolve the matter regarding the…
Pope Leo, he said, “immediately asked me how Lourdes was handling this issue” and expressed his support for “the way we have approached things,” following Lourdes’ covering of the priest’s mosaics at the entrance of…
Before publishing the full text of the interview, Paris Match published an article in its weekly magazine, which was subsequently reported on by the Catholic Herald Aug. 27.
In the interview, Bishop Micas also said the Vatican agreed with his decision to cover all mosaics at the basilica ahead of the pope’s France Sept. 25-28 visit to France.
According to the Aug. 27 report by Paris Match, the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Paris, where Pope Leo will be staying during his visit, has been closed since the start of the Slovenian priest’s canonical trial.
The chapel, which features Father Rupnik’s artwork, including a depiction of St. Irenaeus of Lyon, will remain closed until a verdict is announced, after which a decision will be made on whether the artwork will be…
Responding to a request for comment by OSV News, the apostolic nunciature in Paris said that “no celebration by the Holy Father is scheduled during the Apostolic Visit to France.

Sources

OSV Newslink