Cardinals and bishops can now face criminal trials in the Vatican tribunal and be judged by lay magistrates after Pope Francis issued a new decree. This is a further message from the pope to Vatican-based cardinals and bishops about his intent to hold them accountable for criminal misconduct. It is a message he has been Read more
The Vatican tribunal has sentenced a former Holy See diplomat to Washington to five years in prison and fined him €5,000. The Tribunal found Monsignor Carlo Capella guilty of the “possession and distribution of child pornography with the aggravating circumstance of its large quantity”. Capella’s was the first trial of its kind inside the Vatican. Read more
A Vatican tribunal to judge bishops in connection with child abuse wouldn’t investigate any Australian bishops until a royal commission has concluded. Last week, the Vatican announced a new tribunal within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “to judge bishops with regard to crimes of the abuse of office when connected to the Read more
Paolo Gabriele, the pope’s former butler who was found guilty of aggravated theft, started his 18-month jail sentence in a Vatican prison cell. Gabriele began serving his prison sentence by order of a Vatican court, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. “The order will be carried out before the end of the day,” he Read more
The author of the book that revealed alleged Vatican secrets appealed for clemency on Monday after a Vatican tribunal sentenced Paolo Gabriele, the pope’s former butler, to an 18-month sentence house arrest for stealing private papal correspondence. Several European newspapers published an op-ed piece by Gianluigi Nuzzi, the book’s author, defending the actions of Gabriele, Read more
Paolo Gabriele, the pope’s former butler, complained of mistreatment after his arrest on charges of stealing documents from the pontiff’s private apartment. Gabriele claimed that his cell was so small he could not extend his arms, and the light was kept on permanently. The judges have ordered an inquiry into his allegations. The Vatican police Read more
Paolo Gabriele, Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler who has been accused of the theft of confidential documents from the papal apartment, will take the witness stand on Tuesday. During Saturday’s start of the trial, the Vatican tribunal said Gabriele’s trial will be separate from that of Claudio Sciarpelletti who was charged for allegedly aiding and Read more