In Depth

Vatican statement on arrests for document leak

Monday, November 2, 2015In Depth

Rome (ZENIT) --

The Vatican today released a communiqué regarding the arrestof two people, a priest and a laywoman, charged with leaking confidential information.

The arrests come as two books are slated to be released this week, supposedly detailing scandals related to Vatican finances.

Here is a translation of the statement, provided by Fr. Thomas Rosica, the English-language assistant to the Vatican press office.

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As part of criminal investigations carried out by the Vatican Gendarmerie that have been underway for several months involving the removal and dissementation of news and confidential documents, last Saturday and Sunday two individuals were called in for questioining on the basis of the evidence gathered.

The individuals are an ecclesiastic,Monsignor Lucio Angel Vallegjo BaldaandDoctor FrancescaChaouqui,whoin the past were respectively secretary and member of COSEA (Commission charged to study and address the organization of Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, established by the Pope in July 2013 and subsequently dissolved after the completion of its mandate).

[Msgr. Vallejo Balda's biographical information can be found at this site:

http://www.paess.va/content/affarieconomici/it/il-personale/i-collaboratori/i-superiori/mons--lucio-angel-vallejo-balda.html]

Following the results of the interrogation the two people were held in detention in view of the continuing investigation.Today the Office of the Promoter of Justice, Professor Advocate Gian Piero Milano, Promoter of Justice, and Professor Roberto Zannotti, Asssitant Promoter of Justice, has validated the arrest of the above individuals, but they released Dr. Chaouqui, against whom there were no precautionary requirements and also due to the fact that she cooperated with the investigation.

The position of Monsignor Vallejo Balda remains under consideration of the Office of the Promoter of Justice.

One should remember that disclosure of information and confidential documents is an offense under the Law no. IX of the State of Vatican City (13 July 2013) Article 10 (art. 116 bis C.P. ).

As for the books announced for publication in the the next few days, let it be clearly stated at this time, as in the past, that such actions are a serious betrayal of trust granted by the Pope and with regard to the authors, an operation that takes advantage of a serioiusly unlawful act unlawful delivery of confidential documents -- an operation whose legal implications and possibly penalties are under study by the Office of the Promoter of Justice in view of possible further measures that will involve international cooperation. if necessary. Publications of this kind do not contribute in any way to establish clarity and truth, but rather to create confusion and partial and tendentious interpretations. We must absolutely avoid the mistake of thinking that this is a way to help the mission of the Pope.