- Title: VATICAN-ABUSE/ARREST Vatican arrests former archbishop on paedophilia charges
- Date: 24th September 2014
- Summary: VATICAN CITY (SEPTEMBER 24, 2014) (REUTERS) ST. PETER'S SQUARE DURING GENERAL AUDIENCE VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS ARRIVING
- Embargoed: 9th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Dominican Republic
- Country: Dominican Republic
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADKUL9V4W8U016WED4WAFIO6WC
- Story Text: Catholics attending the general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday (September 24) said the arrest by the Vatican of a former archbishop accused of paying for sex with children was a positive step, indicating the clergy was taking action to fight paedophilia within the church.
The accusations regarding Jozef Wesolowski, a Pole, are said to have taken place while he was a papal ambassador in the Dominican Republic. It is the first-ever arrest inside the Vatican on charges of paedophilia.
Pope Francis made no comment on the arrest during the weekly audience in St. Peter's square but his actions could herald in a new era of the church fighting the issue of paedophilia in a more pro-active manner.
Wesolowski was defrocked by a Vatican tribunal in June and has been placed under house arrest awaiting a criminal trial, the Vatican said.
The 66-year-old Wesolowski is the most prominent church figure to be arrested since Paolo Gabriele, a former papal butler convicted in 2012 of stealing and leaking private papers of former Pope Benedict XVI.
Unlike Gabriele, Wesolowski has not been detained in the Vatican prison, a couple of rooms attached to a courthouse, but was granted house arrest in a Vatican apartment for medical reasons.
For pilgrims in St. Peter's square there was unanimous support for the action taken by Pope Francis and the Vatican authorities to arrest the former archbishop.
''I think this has shown a coherence between what is preached and the decision that has been taken" said Spanish monk Louis Oviedo.
"I am not informed of the details but I imagine there will now be a correct and fair trial,'' Oviedo said.
''We agree, because this is fighting sex abuse. The perpetrators must be investigated," said Argentinean pilgrim Nelly Mitch.
"We have known this from when he was a Cardinal in Argentina, we have always agreed with what he said and we think he has always been excellent. We totally agree with him,'' she said.
''They have have covered up for too long, also in the United Kingdom, they have covered up for too long," said British tourist Carol Jones.
"It needs to be acted upon immediately. It's good, didn't know anything about it but he acted correctly,'' she said agreeing with the actions of the pope.
''The Pope should be acting on these issues because this is a very delicate problem for the Catholic church. This can bring people to have more trust in the Catholic church and structures,'' said Polish pilgrim Eva Skrzypko.
Wesolowski was recalled to Rome by the Vatican last year when he was still a diplomat in Santo Domingo and relieved of his duties after Dominican media accused him of paedophilia.
He had been living freely in Rome, and victims of sexual abuse had called for his arrest, expressing concern he might flee.
The former archbishop could face up to 12 years in jail in what will be the first trial for sexual abuse to be held inside the Vatican City.
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