Vatican City, Jun 23, 2018 / 05:20 am
At the close of his civil trial in the Vatican, former Holy See diplomat Msgr. Carlo Alberto Capella was found guilty of possessing and distributing child pornography and given a five-year prison sentence.
The priest was also asked to pay a fine of 5,000 euro. The penitentiary where he will serve his prison term is unknown.
Capella, 51, a former Vatican diplomat, was recalled from the U.S. nunciature in Washington, D.C. last September after the U.S. State Department notified the Vatican of a "possible violation of laws relating to child pornography images" by a diplomat.
His June 23 sentence came after the priest admitted his guilt in the trial's opening session the day before, saying he committed his crimes during a period of "personal crisis" and weakness after being transferred to Washington D.C.