WASHINGTON, D.C. (U.S.)
The Washington Post
September 15, 2017
By Julie Zauzmer
U.S. officials found evidence implicating a Vatican diplomat in a child-pornography case, leading the Vatican to recall the official to the Holy See.
The Vatican said in a news release Friday that the U.S. State Department contacted the Vatican’s Secretariat of State on Aug. 21 to report a possible crime involving child pornography, committed by a member of the diplomatic corps based in Washington.
In addition to being the seat of the Catholic church, the Vatican is also a sovereign nation located within the borders of Italy. Pope Francis is both spiritual leader and head of state. Vatican diplomats in the United States have diplomatic immunity from prosecution for most crimes in the United States, like diplomats of all foreign nations.
The Vatican recalled the diplomat in question, whom it did not name in its press release Friday, from the District to Vatican City and opened an investigation there. The Holy See said officials are working on collaborating with foreign investigators to gather evidence in the case.
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