Senior Vatican Diplomat Arrested on Suspicion of Possessing Child Pornography

A senior Vatican Diplomatic Official was recently recalled from the Washington Embassy and detained by Vatican Authorities, the individual in question was arrested on Saturday, April 7th, 2018.

The Monsignor, Carlo Alberto Capella, an Italian priest, was being investigated by US authorities in 2017 for possible violations of child pornography laws. Also, authorities in Canada issued an arrest warrant for Capella. Allegedly, in December of 2016 the Catholic Priest while visiting a parish, possessed and distributed child pornography.

Capella was ordained initially in 1993 and was made the Honorarium of Monsignor in 2008 by the Then-Pope Benedict XVI. Capella had also previously served in the Vatican Diplomatic Corps and now faces up to five years in prison.

The Vatican News reported, “…at the request of the Vatican Promoter of Justice, the Investigating Magistrate of the Vatican City State Tribunal, an arrest warrant was issued for Msgr Carlo Alberto Capella.”

Capella’s “arrest comes at the end of an investigation on the part of the Vatican’s Promoter of Justice. The investigation in the Vatican was opened in the fall of 2017 after Canadian police accused Msgr Capella of possession and distribution of child pornography allegedly downloaded while he was in Canada. At the time, the accused was a functionary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C.”

Incredibly, while Capella was at the ‘Vatican Embassy’ in Washington D.C., the Monsignor had Diplomatic Immunity.

The case comes amidst an already embattled Vatican that is continually facing sexual abuse allegations against its clergy by members of its congregation. The Monsignor is one of many ‘High Ranking’ Vatican leaders who are under active investigation in regards to sexual abuse.