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Lourdes Covers Rupnik Mosaics Ahead of Pope Leo Visit
Developing
In Short: In preparation for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lourdes, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas ordered the complete covering of Father Marko Rupnik's mosaics, which were partially covered earlier this year.
The decision to cover the mosaics was made to ensure that victims of clerical sexual abuse would not be deterred from visiting the sanctuary.
Bishop Micas explained that the mosaics, created by Father Rupnik, who is currently facing a canonical trial for alleged spiritual and sexual abuse, could be a source of distress for survivors.
Sister Samuelle, a French mosaicist and one of Father Rupnik’s alleged victims, recently visited Lourdes, highlighting the emotional impact of the mosaics on abuse survivors.
The mosaics, commissioned in 2008, were fully covered by September 18, ensuring they would not be visible during Pope Leo's visit.
Background
Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to France is expected to reignite faith among Catholics, following a period of institutional challenges.
Pope Leo XIV's four-day visit to France, starting September 25, is expected to draw over a million people, with events including an open-air Mass and a popemobile ride through Paris.
What's confirmed
- Amid the ongoing canonical trial of Father Rupnik, the famed priest-mosaicist accused by over 20 women of spiritual and sexual abuse, in March 2025 Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes ordered to cover part of the large-scale mosaic artwork created by the former Jesuit.
- “Lourdes is considered as a very important place by victims of sexual abuse … because with the Immaculate Conception, they can find consolation and maybe some cure,” he said.
- Knowing that victims of clerical sexual abuse come to Lourdes searching for healing and recalling a recent visit to the sanctuary by Sister Samuelle, a French mosaicist and one of Father Rupnik’s alleged victims, Bishop Micas said that “after having received and listened to some people being victims of sexual abuses,” he understood “it’s just horrible” and “it’s a scandal” that victims could feel deterred from visiting the grounds due to the display of an alleged abuser’s mosaics.
- In covering part of the mosaics at that point, the bishop sought to alleviate that concern for some pilgrims, he explained.
- “This is my mission here,” he said, noting that did not want the mosaics to be a roadblock for people who wanted to visit Lourdes.
- In June, Sobocki was accompanying Sister Samuelle in her visit to Lourdes and witnessed a moment of the alleged victim of Father Rupnik facing the then-partially covered mosaics.
- “Sometimes you take a spontaneous photo which says so much more than a thousand safeguarding reports,” she said of the photo of Sister Samuelle facing massive mosaics on the wall of the basilica.
- “They are standard-bearers for those who suffer abuse and then suffer again when enduring the agony of attempting to convince others to listen to them,” Sobocki told OSV News in a written response to questions.
- (OSV News) — Prior to Pope Leo XIV’s arrival to Lourdes Sept.
- 26, the sanctuary covered the mosaics of Father Marko Rupnik, the spokesman of the sanctuary confirmed to OSV News, sharing pictures of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary with mosaics entirely covered.
- “This measure is intended to be a long-term solution and not merely a temporary decoration” for the papal visit, he said, adding that “the search for a permanent solution will continue in consultation with the bishop and the committee that has been in place since 2024.” Pope Leo will arrive in Lourdes in the evening of Sept.
- Father Rupnik’s mosaics were — until fully covered Sept.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.