Vatican sets landmark trial for ex envoy to Dominican Republic: Rappler

Warsaw, Poland. –Dominican Republic’s Justice minister on Monday said a former Vatican envoy suspected of child sex crimes cannot prosecuted in his country because treaty obligations give the Vatican full jurisdiction, rappler.com reports.

"Under the Vienna Convention, the prosecution of diplomats lies within the jurisdiction of the country that issued their accreditation," Justice minister Francisco Dominguez told reporters in Warsaw.

“It would therefore be up to the Vatican to prosecute former Polish archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, who is in custody after being defrocked in June for abusing children, the outlet said.

Rappler.com adds that the Vatican is preparing for a landmark trial against the 66-year-old former bishop, who was stripped of his job in June after a Church tribunal found he had abused minors during his 2008-13 stint as the Holy See’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic.