Vatican outlines progress of criminal case against former nuncio to Dominican Republic

December 03, 2014

A Vatican prosecutor is moving forward with the criminal case against Josef Wesolowski, the former apostolic nuncio to the Dominican Republic, who was laicized after a canonical trial earlier this year on charges of molesting young boys.

Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, confirmed to reporters on December 3 that the Vatican's chief prosecutor, Gian Piero Milano, had met with his counterpart from the Dominican Republic, Francisco Dominguez Brito, to discuss the case. The Dominican prosecutor was in Europe to meet with officials at the Vatican and in Poland, sharing information about the investigation into Wesolowski's conduct. Father Lombardi said that the Vatican may seek further information from the Dominican Republic as the case progresses.

Wesolowski has already been questioned by Vatican magistrates, the Vatican spokesman disclosed, and more questioning will follow.

Wesolowski has been "permitted a certain freedom of movement" after weeks under house arrest, Father Lombardi revealed. But the former archbishop remains confined within the territory of the Vatican city-state and "is subject to appropriate restrictions on external communications."

 

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Further information:

• Declaration by the Director of the Holy See Press Office (VIS)
• Dominican prosecutor pleased with Vatican's handling of case against former nuncio (CWN, 12/2)