Dominican Republic judge denies a warrant to arrest ex- Vatican envoy

Santo Domingo.- A judge in the Dominican Republic on Monday refused to issue a warrant to arrest former Vatican envoy Józef Wesolowski, charged with sexually abusing minors.

National District instruction judge Román Berroa ruled that since the country forms part of the Vienna Convention, a diplomat cannot be prosecuted outside the State which he represents.

The judge also notified the decision to National District prosecutor Yeni Berenice Reynoso, who heads the effort to extradite the former bishop, the highest ranking official of the Catholic Church to face such indictment.

In her request, Reynoso said the Vatican’s former representative should face charges in the country of allegedly paying boys to perform sexual acts

In that regard Justice minister Francisco Domínguez has stated that the Vienna Convention precludes Wesolowski’s extradition to the Dominican Republic.

Streets of Rome

The former diplomat was reportedly seen “walking the streets of Rome,” where Pope Francis has affirmed a “zero tolerance” policy against priests convicted of sexual abuses.