Poland interested in extraditing former papal nucnio

August 28, 2014

The Polish ambassador to the Holy See has said that his government may renew its effort to seek extradition for Jozef Wesolowski, the former apostolic nuncio who has been charged with molesting boys in the Dominican Republic.

"We are currently analyzing the situation regarding immunity," Ambassador Piotr Nowina-Konopka told the Religion News Service. As a papal envoy, then-Archbishop Wesolowski enjoyed diplomatic immunity. But the Vatican has indicated that following a canonical trial that resulted in his laicization, Wesolowsi no longer has diplomatic status.

Poland, Wesolowski's native country, had inquired last year about extradition, but the Vatican had resisted, saying that the prelate should first face a Vatican tribunal.

Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic has also expressed interest in extraditing the defrocked archbishop to face criminal charges there.

 

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Further information:

• Polish diplomat raises extradition for Vatican official accused of sex abuse (RNS)
• Dominican prosecutors interested in pursuing extradition of former nuncio (CWN, 8/27)