Vatican City, 3 November 2015 (VIS) –
Early yesterday afternoon, 2 November, the Holy See Press Office
issued the following communique:
“As part of criminal investigations
by the Vatican Gendarmerie that have been underway for several
months, involving the removal and dissemination of news and
confidential documents, last Saturday and Sunday two individuals were
called in for questioning on the basis of the evidence gathered.
The individuals are an ecclesiastic,
Msgr. Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda and Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui,
who in the past were respectively secretary and member of COSEA
(Commission charged to study and address the organisation of
Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, established by the
Pope in July 2013 and subsequently dissolved after the completion of
its mandate).
Following the results of the
interrogation the two people were held in detention in view of the
continuing investigation. Today the Office of the Promoter of
Justice, Professor Advocate Gian Piero Milano, Promoter of Justice,
and Professor Roberto Zannotti, Assistant Promoter of Justice, has
validated the arrest of the above individuals, but they released Dr.
Chaouqui, against whom there were no precautionary requirements and
also due to the fact that she cooperated with the investigation.
The position of Monsignor Vallejo Balda
remains under consideration by the Office of the Promoter of Justice.
It should be remembered that disclosure
of information and confidential documents is an offence under Law no.
IX of the Vatican City State (13 July 2013) Article 10 (art. 116 bis
C.P. ).
As for the books announced for
publication in the the next few days, let it be clearly stated at
this time, as in the past, that such actions are a serious betrayal
of trust granted by the Pope and with regard to the authors, an
operation intended to take advantage of a grave offence, the unlawful
delivery of confidential documents. The legal implications and
possible penalties currently being studied by the Office of the
Promoter of Justice with a view to possible further measures
involving international cooperation. if necessary. Publications of
this kind do not contribute in any way to establish clarity and
truth, but rather to create confusion and partial and tendentious
interpretations. We must certainly avoid the mistake of thinking that
this is a way to help the mission of the Pope”.
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