Marko Ivan Rupnik was born on 28 November 1954 in Slovenia. In 1973 he entered the Society of Jesus. Having studied philosophy in Ljubljana, he came to Rome to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti, where he graduated in 1981. He then began his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained a priest in 1985 and afterwards completed the license in missiology at the Gregorian. From 1987 to 1991 he lived in Gorizia working with young people. In 1991 he received a doctorate from the Gregorian’s Faculty of Missiology for a thesis on The Theological Missionary Meaning of Art in the Writings of Vjaceslav Ivanovic Ivanov directed by Tomáš Špidlík

Since September 1991 he has lived and worked in Rome as the Director of the Centro Aletti He also teaches at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the Pontifical Gregorian University, Saint Anselm Pontifical Liturgical Institute and gives seminars and lectures throughout Europe. He was appointed a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Culture in 1999. In February 2000 he received the “France Preseren” Award, Slovenia highest recognition for contributions to the cultural patrimony. In 2002 he received the “Sign of honour of the freedom of the Slovenian Republic”, from the president of the republic. In 2003 he received the international “Beato Angelico” prize for Europe. His work as an artist and theologian is  complimented by his pastoral work especially leading courses and retreats. Besides many collective exhibitions, he has presented his works in personal exhibitions including:

• 1979 Rome, Milan, Baltimore

• 1980 Cleveland (USA) Ljubljana

• 1985 Ljubljana

• 1987 Rome

• 1996 St Petersburg (Russia)

• 1997 Trieste, Brno (Czech Republic), Olomouc (Czech Republic), Rome, Cluj (Romania)

• 2002 Genzano di Roma (Italy)

With Centro Aletti’s Atelier of Spiritual Art he has created mosaics in:

• 1999 Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

• 2000 St Hugo Church, Rome

• 2001 “Madonna of the Olive Grove House” Hospice, Montericco di Albinea, Reggio Emilia (Italy); Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy Chapel, Rome,  St John of the Fields Chapel, Pontifical Polish Institute, Rome, Seminary of Maribor Chapel, Maribor (Slovenia) 

• 2002 St Paul the Apostle Church, Barletta, Bari (Italy), Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Porto Santo Stefano, Grosseto (Italy) “France Preseren” Publishing House, Ljubljana (Slovenia), St. Michael Church, Grosuplje (Slovenia), Mary Help of Christians Chapel, Tamar (Slovenia) Rest Home Chapel of Crni Vrh (Slovenia) Sts. James and John Church, Milan, Centro Aletti refectory, Rome.  

• 2003 Centrum Aletti Chapel, Olomouc (Czech Republic) Centro Aletti Chapel, Rome, Badín, Banská Bystrica (Slovakia); St Mark Church, Koper (Slovenia),  Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature, Paris, Chapel of the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium", Rome.

• 2004 Chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature, Damascus (Syria), Spiritual Centre of Emmanuel Community, Lecce (Italy), Chapel of St Stanislaus College, Ljubljana, St. Florian Chapel, Krnice (Slovenia) St Claire Church, French College, Rome. 

• 2005 Knights of Columbus' Headquarters' Chapel in New Haven, Connecticut, Chapel of Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Vatican City, St Pasquale Church, Bari (Italy),  Chapel in Kocevski rog (Slovenia); Chapel in Archbishopric of Belgrade (Serbia) Sacristy of Madrid Cathedral, St Martin Church, Fondi (Italy)

• 2006 St Roman Church, Rome, Chapel of "Casa incontri cristiani", Capiago, Como (Italy) Mary "Salus Infirmorum" Sanctuary, Scaldaferro, Vicenza (Italy) Church of St. Stanislaus College, Ljubljana, Orthodox Church of Transfiguration in Cluj

• 2007 The chapel of the Daughter of Mercy of the Third Order of St Francis, Rome, The Chapel of the St Monica’s College, Rome, the Chapel of the Hospital of Blessed Mª Ana delle Hermanas Hospitalarias, Madrid, Chapel of the Residence fo Priests, Požega (Croazia), Parish Chapel at  Ljubljana (Slovenia), The Church of Mary Immaculate, Bari (Italy), The Chapel of the Sisters of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Lenno (Italy), St John the Baptist Church, Smederevo (Serbia), The Chapel of the Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, The Shrine of the Most Holy Trinity, Fatima (Portugal),  The Rosary Basilica, Lourdes,  Parish Church, Ravoledo (Italy), the Church of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament and the Canadian Martyrs, Rome, The Chapel of the Jesuit residence of St Peter Canisius Rome.

• 2008 The Chapel of the Mericful Heart of Jesus, Vepric (Croatia), the Way of the Cross, Mengore (Slovenia), the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Reggio Calabria (Italy), The Church of Our Lady of the Well, Lebanon, The Chapel of Abuna Yaskub, Lebanon, The Chapel of the Sacred Heart University,  Connecticut (USA), Church of St Michael the Archangel, Supersano (Lecce, Italy).