This can be seen in a video published by Vatican media on Wednesday, in which Francis talks to the Catholic community in Gaza on the phone.
The work by the controversial Slovenian priest shows Joseph sleeping with an angel.
According to katholisch.de, the painting is a detail of a larger work of art for the chapel of the bishop on the Croatian island of Hvar, Ranko Vidović. Rupnik personally completed the work on the chapel in 2023 - despite the travel and work ban imposed on him before his expulsion from the Jesuit order.
Rupnik art in the Vatican
The Vatican is also holding on to Rupnik's art despite the allegations of abuse.
The head of the Vatican's communications department, Paolo Ruffini, emphasised at a media conference last year that it was never a good decision to remove, delete or destroy works of art.
As long as the process has not been finalised, it is not his place to anticipate a decision.
The then President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Children, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, criticised this and called on the Vatican and its institutions to respect the presumption of innocence while the process is ongoing, but at the same time to show "wise pastoral prudence and compassion" for those who have been harmed by clerical sexual abuse.
Rupnik has been accused of various forms of abuse for years.
Among other things, several women have accused the Slovenian of making them sexually submissive by exploiting his authority.
Investigations by the Jesuit order under the direction of the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith ended with the finding that Rupnik's alleged misdemeanours were time-barred.
Finally, the Jesuit order banned Rupnik from publicly exercising his priesthood in 2022.
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith investigates allegations
The expulsion from the Jesuit order followed in mid-2023 after the Slovenian had repeatedly ignored the requirements.
As katholisch.de learnt in October, he was incardinated into the Slovenian diocese of Koper.
Shortly afterwards, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had instructed the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to investigate the allegations against Rupnik and to lift the statute of limitations.
Nothing is yet known about the status of the proceedings.
Rupnik is one of the most important mosaic artists of our time.
One of his most famous works is the "Redemptoris Mater" chapel in the papal palace in the Vatican, which was completed in 1999.
He has also designed sacred spaces in Fatima, Lourdes, Krakow and Washington D.C.
His art is the subject of worldwide debate, most recently in the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes.