VATICAN CITY
The Guardian
AFP
A Spanish priest jailed by the Vatican for leaking secret files to journalists was released from custody early on Tuesday on the orders of Pope Francis.
Spanish monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda was sentenced to 18 months in July after the controversial “Vatileaks II” trial of himself, his assistant, two investigative Italian journalists and a PR consultant.
The case centred on the documents used by the journalists for books exposing waste and financial mismanagement at the top of the church.
The journalists and assistant were acquitted, but PR expert Francesca Chaouqui, who was accused of orchestrating the leaks from a financial reform commission, was given a suspended sentence.
“Given that the Rev Vallejo Balda has already served more than half of his sentence (including pre-trial custody), the holy father Francis has granted him the benefit of a conditional release,” the Vatican said in a statement.
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