The Holy See Press Office issues a statement on the decision to waive diplomatic immunity for the Apostolic Nuncio to France, who is being investigated by French authorities for alleged sexual assault.
By Vatican News
The Director ad interim of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, has confirmed that the Holy See has waived diplomatic immunity for the Apostolic Nuncio to France, Archbishop Luigi Ventura, with regard to the criminal procedure concerning him. The action was taken in conformity with the Vienna Convention of 18 April 1961.
The move to waive diplomatic immunity “is an extraordinary gesture that confirms the will of the Nuncio, expressed from the beginning of the matter, to cooperate fully and spontaneously with the French judicial authorities responsible for the case,” Gisotti said in a brief statement. He explained that the Holy See had waited for the conclusion of the preliminary phase of the procedure – “in which Abp Ventura freely participated” – before making the decision. The Holy See received notification of the end of that phase at the end of June, and communicated the decision to waive immunity to French authorities last week.
