The Vatican revokes diplomatic immunity of Nuncio to France, following investigation for sexual attacks
The Vatican on Monday revoked the diplomatic immunity of papal nuncio to France mons. Luigi Ventura, who is under investigation for “sexual attacks,” the French foreign ministry announced.
A Quai d’Orsay spokesman said the ministry had received confirmation that its request for his immunity to be lifted had been met.
Luigi Ventura, 74, faces four complaints of sexual abuse — including that he molested a junior official at the Paris town hall. French prosecutors in March asked the Vatican to lift his immunity.
In February, French prosecutors revealed they were investigating the Italian-born archbishop over an incident at the town hall during a New Year’s address by Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
During the ceremony, a city employee had their backside repeatedly groped, with the town hall filing a complaint on January 24. An investigation was opened the next day.
Two other people have since come forward and related incidents involving “similar gestures, hands on buttocks or thighs”, which allegedly took place last year.
There was also a complaint filed in Ottawa by a man who made similar allegations about an incident in 2008 while Ventura was serving in Canada.