The Vatican to prosecute former envoy to Dominican Republic ‘with severity’

Santo Domingo.- Former Vatican envoy to the Dominican Republic, Jozef Wesolowski, charged with sex crimes against several boys will face criminal prosecution by the Vatican Court, said Papacy representative to the UN Monsignor Silvano Tomasi on Thursday.

The investigation, said Tomasi, is underway and the Polish prelate will be tried "with the severity he deserves," reports Vatican Insider, of the daily La Stampa.

Responding to the UN expert on the issue of non-extradition, Tomasi noted that, in adherence to the new rules approved by Pope Francis, Wesolowski, as a diplomat of the Holy See will be prosecuted in the Vatican, and not extradited.

Wesolowski, who was whisked out of the Dominican Republic August 21, is at the center of two investigations, in the Caribbean nation as well as in his homeland.

Dominican Republic’s Justice Ministry had sent the results of the probe into the prelate’s alleged crimes to the Vatican.