As the Synod reached a critical phase, the case of Fr Marko Rupnik, the Slovenian priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing several women, surfaced once again. The day before the Synod voted on the document summarising its discussions, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had lifted the statute of limitations in church law to allow Rupnik to be prosecuted.

A few days earlier, it had been reported that in August the Rome-based Rupnik had been accepted as a priest in good standing for the Slovenian diocese of Koper. This was a jaw-dropping and scandalous decision. Rupnik had been placed under heavy restrictions by his religious order, the Jesuits, and then expelled for disobeying them. He had also been excommunicated for using the confessional to absolve a woman he had engaged in sexual activity with, although the Vatican’s doctrine office swiftly lifted this in mysterious circumstances.