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The archdiocese of Naples has sent the Vatican a 1,200-page dossier compiled by a male escort purportedly identifying 40 actively gay priests and seminarians in Italy.

In a statement on the diocesan website, Cardinal Cresenzio Sepe said none of the identified priests worked in Naples.

But he said he decided to forward the file to the Vatican because "there remains the gravity of the cases for which those who have erred must pay the price, and be helped to repent for the harm done".

The dossier, containing WhatsApp chats and other evidence, was compiled by a self-proclaimed gay escort, Francesco Mangiacapra.

He has told Italian media that he outed the priests because he could not stand their hypocrisy any longer.

None of the 34 priests or six seminarians was accused of having sex with minors, Mr Mangiacapra was quoted as saying in the diocesan statement.

"We're talking about sins, not crimes," the escort was quoted as saying in the statement.

Homosexuality is considered "towards an intrinsic moral evil" by the Catholic church, although is is not considered sinful unless acted upon.

In October 2016, Pope Francis called for transsexuals and homosexuals to be accepted and embraced by the Church.

He said: "Each case must be welcomed, accompanied, studied, discerned and integrated.

"When a person [who is gay] arrives before Jesus, Jesus certainly will not say, 'Go away because you are homosexual'."

Additional reporting by the Press Association