Vatican strips diplomatic immunity from ex-envoy to Dominican Republic: AP

Vatican City.- Former Vatican envoy to Dominican Republic Josef Wesolowski, indicted on sexual abuse of boys, has been stripped of his diplomatic immunity and faces prosecuted in the Caribbean country, AP reports citing the Holy See.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi Monday afternoon said Wesolowski no longer works as a diplomat for the Holy See and has no diplomatic immunity, and therefore "may be subjected to judicial proceedings in courts that have jurisdiction over him."

The Vatican secreted Wesolowski out of the country in August last year amid rumors he sexually abused boys in the Dominican Republic.

In recent weeks, a Vatican tribunal found the former envoy guilty under canonical law and was defrocked. Wesolowski has criminal proceedings pending against him in the Vatican.

Poland, Dominican courts

Wesolowski is a native of Poland, home to another priest, Wojciech Gil (Padre Alberto), who fled Dominican Republic prior to being indicted of sexual abuse of minors near the second city, Santiago.