The French public prosecutor's office has demanded the repeal of the diplomatic immunity of the papal envoy in Paris. The application was already made at the end of last week, reports the news agency dpa. The background is investigation into sexual harassment against Luigi Ventura.
Four reports were filed against Ventura, three of the plaintiffs have already been heard by investigators, AFP reports. At least three of the plaintiffs accuse the 74-year-old to have touched them immoral on the butt. That's why the Paris prosecutor has been investigating the papal envoy since the end of January.
The French government had already called the Vatican to action in the matter. European Minister Nathalie Loiseau spoke of "grave" allegations against the nuncio. Ventura has been ambassador to France since 2009 and therefore enjoys diplomatic immunity.
From Canada, a similar charge had become known where Ventura formerly served. Pope Francis had announced at the end of February to conclude an abuse conference in the Vatican, in the future transparent to deal with such allegations (read a comment here). The church does not want to cover up or downplay abuse cases, he promised.