Article content

A high-ranking Vatican priest working in the Holy See’s embassy in Washington has been recalled after U.S. prosecutors asked for him to be charged and face trial in a child pornography investigation, Vatican and U.S. officials said Friday.

The Vatican declined to identify the diplomat, but said he was currently in Vatican City and that Vatican prosecutors had launched their own probe.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Vatican recalls diplomat from Washington amid child porn investigation Back to video

The State Department said it had asked the Vatican to lift the official’s diplomatic immunity on Aug. 21. It said that request was denied. For the State Department to make such a request, its lawyers would have needed to be convinced that there was reasonable cause for criminal prosecution.

In a statement, the Vatican said the U.S. State Department had notified the Vatican on Aug. 21 of a “possible violation of laws relating to child pornography images” by one of its diplomats in Washington.

A U.S. official familiar with the case said the priest was a senior member of the Vatican embassy staff. The Vatican yearbook lists three counsellors who work under the nuncio, or ambassador.