Vatican indicts former ambassador to Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.– The Vatican’s former ambassador to the Dominican Republic has been indicted on charges he sexually abused young boys in the country and will stand trial next month in a Vatican court.

In a statement, the Holy See said Jozef Wesolowski will have his first hearing July 11, the first case of its kind to be brought before a Vatican court.

The Polish cleric is accused of possession of child pornography in Rome in 2013-14 and the sexual abuse of minors during his 2008-13 spell as the Church’s representative in the Dominican Republic.

The Holy See recalled Wesolowski in 2013 after rumors surfaced in Santo Domingo that he allegedly paid shoeshine boys to perform sex acts.