Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi released a statement today saying that Francisco Dominguez Brito, Chief Prosecutor of the Dominican Republic, met today with Gian Piero Milan, the Vatican’s Promoter of Justice.
The meeting was in regards to the case of Józef Wesołowski, the former apostolic nuncio to the Dominican Republic who is accused of sexual abuse against minors in the island nation.
According to Dominican Today and AP, Dominguez Brito also met yesterday with Milan and with Archbishop Angelo Becciu, Substitute of the Secretariat of State.
“At these meetings we analyzed both countries’ laws to determine the legal powers of Dominican authorities and the reach of the Vatican’s jurisdiction, which has already made the summary and have taken precautionary measures such as the ratification and implementation of the reach of house arrest,” Dominguez said in a press conference yesterday.
The Dominican Republic’s top prosecutor said the country adheres to the Vienna Convention which says that diplomatic personnel charged with crimes must be tried in the country they represent. He also praised the Vatican’s handling of the case.
At today’s meeting, Fr. Lombardi stated that Dominguez and Milano met to discuss further cooperation with the investigation. The meeting, he stated, “was useful for both parties given the complexity of the investigation and the possibility of international requests by the Vatican for further information.”
The director of the Holy See Press Office also stated that the Judiciary of Vatican City State is continuing its investigation and have already completed an interrogation Wesołowski, which “will be followed by others.”
On September 24th, the Vatican placed Wesołowski under house arrest at the “expressed desire” of Pope Francis, “so that a case so serious and delicate would be addressed without delay.”
Fr. Lombardi stated that the deadline for preventative custody has passed and Wesołowski has been authorized a “certain freedom of movement”. However, he must stay within Vatican City State and is subject to restrictions “with outside communication.”
