Content warning: this review includes discussion of sexual abuse.
Abuse within the church is no secret; in fact, it has been widely publicised in recent years. But there is a tendency for the media to forget about a large portion of the demographic that are affected by this violence.
Nuns vs. The Vatican is an insightful 2025 investigative documentary from Italian director Lorena Luciano that sheds light on the abuse that nuns and other women within the church system face and the systemic attempt by the Vatican to hide it.
The film is shot over a period of five years and includes testimonies from various religious women who have been subject to sexual, mental and spiritual abuse from religious figures.
The Marko Rupnik Case
The core case that the documentary follows is that which accuses Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik of repeated sexual abuse and spiritual manipulation of the sisters within the Loyola community in Slovenia. 30 years after the fact, the principal participant, Gloria Blanciani, breaks her silence and recalls how Rupnik would force her to strip and performed sexual acts on her while he created pieces of artwork.
As the Vatican began to investigate clerical abuse and seemingly acknowledged that there was a problem within the system that needed to be solved, Rupnik was excommunicated. However, this was shortly reversed, and he was reinstated, a power that is only held by the Pope.
Additionally, despite the many allegations held against Rupnik, his artwork continued to be inducted into religious buildings, emphasising the unwillingness of religious figures to hold each other accountable.
In following Gloria’s pursuit of justice over this period of time, we see the repeated failures of the Vatican and officials, who attempted to conceal this abuse and spiritually manipulate victims into staying quiet.
The Necessity For Change
The documentary does not only focus on Rupnik’s crimes. Multiple other testimonies from religious women about their experiences are provided, revealing not only the extent of the abuse but also how necessary it is for change to happen.
In a particularly harrowing sequence, Luciano films the hands of an anonymous participant who repeatedly grasps the table edge as she provides a graphic account of her rape by a priest when she was younger. Combined with classical church music that increases in tempo as the horrors are unveiled, the emotions are palpable and rightly create an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience.
With no on-screen intervention from Luciano, spectators are reliant on the participants to provide information, share their journey and also display the efforts of different organisations that aim to expose this exploitation of power and seek justice for those affected.
The film is filled with spiritual imagery throughout. Shots of crosses and beautiful churches contrast the horrors that these symbols now represent for the participants.
It is also not lost on me that the majority of participants within the documentary are female. These are voices that go so often unheard regarding the issue of clerical abuse, as well as in other religious environments, which seem to neglect and do not represent women.
An Unsatisfying Resolution
The documentary platforms the voices of numerous victims, addressing a systemic issue that is largely disregarded and remains unresolved. The open ending is disheartening, and the lack of effort to reach a resolution incites a feeling of deep anger.
Nuns vs The Vatican is a powerful protest film which highlights the need for justice within religious institutions. Its sensitive approach and treatment of participants highlight the urgency for the protection of women in religious environments, while also emphasising their resilience and strength after facing such horror.
Feature Image Credit: Macrobert Arts Centre / Together Films