Matteo Bruni: Reports regarding Rupnik entirely unfounded, assessment still underway

By Vatican News

"Reports concerning any decision whatsoever by the judges handling the case of the Reverend Marko Ivan Rupnik are entirely unfounded."

This was stated by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, in a statement to journalists "regarding certain information that has appeared in the media in recent days." He explained that "the assessment of the case is still underway, and the panel is examining the documentation received from the dioceses concerned, the Jesuits, the persons involved, and the press."

No information can be shared

Bruni specified that "during the proceedings, as with any judicial process, no information regarding the ongoing work can be shared in any way, out of respect for the process itself," also "to avoid causing further hurt" to those "involved in the case, as occurred in recent days."

"If the panel considers that it requires further information, it will take the necessary steps on its own initiative to obtain it," the Director of the Holy See Press Office added.

The canonical criminal trial

The communication to journalists further explained that the "canonical criminal trial is judicial in nature" and "is proceeding notwithstanding the statute of limitations applicable to any alleged offences." It "will be able to determine, in accordance with Canon Law, whether or not the accused is guilty."

Canon Law, it continued, "may judge and impose penalties concerning the internal life of the Church," while Rupnik "remains subject to the legislation of the countries in which any alleged crimes may have been committed." Therefore, "the statute of limitations for such offences is determined by the legislation of each country, independently of ecclesiastical authority."