2nd 'Vatileaks' author meets with Vatican prosecutor but refuses to answer questions

November 18, 2015

Emiliano Fittipaldi, the author of one of two new books based on leaked Vatican documents, met with Vatican prosecutors on November 17 but refused to answer their questions about how he obtained the documents.

Gianluigi Nuzzi, the other of the other new “Vatileaks II” book, had earlier declined to meet with the prosecutors.

Fittipaldi-- the author of Avarice, which details charges of financial mismanagement and corruption—said that Italian law protects his right to keep his sources confidential. He described the Vatican’s laws, which do not recognize that right, as “medieval.”

Fittipaldi said that the Vatican prosecutors told him he could face a prison sentence of up to eight years for publishing confidential documents. However, he expressed confidence that the Italian government would not hand him over to the Vatican for prosecution.

The Italian journalist said that he would go to jail rather than reveal his sources. He said that he agreed to meet with Vatican officials only in order to see what sort of questions they would ask.

 

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Further information:

• Journalist refuses to answer Vatican prosecutor’s questions over leaks (AP)
• 'Vatileaks' journalist refuses to submit to questioning by Vatican prosecutors (CWN, 11/17)