Funeral held at Vatican for former Polish bishop in paedophilia case
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
31.08.2015 14:52
The funeral of a defrocked Polish bishop who died on Friday while being tried for the sexual abuse of minors is being held at the Vatican on Monday afternoon.
Photo: Glowimages
The service for the late Józef Wesołowski is being held in a chapel behind St. Peter's Basilica, although his body will be flown back to Poland for burial, the Vatican has confirmed.
Initial autopsy results indicated that Wesołowski, who turned 67 last month, died of a heart attack.
His trial at the Vatican began on 11 July, but was immediately adjourned after the defendant fell ill.
The child abuse charges, which concern Wesołowski's tenure as papal nuncio in the Dominican Republic between January 2008 and August 2013, were based on evidence submitted by the judicial authorities of Santo Domingo.
He had been recalled from his post on the Caribbean island in August 2013, after the allegations emerged.
Wesołowski was officially defrocked in June 2014.
Never before had such a high-ranking clergyman stood trial at the Vatican on child abuse charges. (nh/rk)