The Vatican launched its first ever criminal prosecution of a priest accused of sexual abuse this month, a dark milestone for the Catholic Church. A second priest, accused of helping to cover up the abuse, is also being tried.

Prosecutors opened the proceedings Oct. 14 by reading the criminal indictments into the official court record. The Rev. Gabriele Martinelli is accused of molesting a younger boy when the two were enrolled in St. Pius X youth seminary more than 10 years ago. The abuse allegedly started when Martinelli was still a minor, but continued after he turned 18.

He is charged with abuse of authority in forcing the boy into “carnal acts” by means of violence and threats starting in 2007 and ending in 2012, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

Also, on trial is the former rector of St. Pius X, the Rev. Enrico Radice, who is charged with covering for Martinelli by lying to other Catholic Church officials. When the alleged victim came forward, Radice alternately referred to his claims as baseless and said he was unaware of any sexual abuse going on at the seminary, prosecutors say.

Although Pope Francis waived the statute of limitations for this case to proceed and signed off on a new policy for Vatican City requiring such crimes be reported to Vatican prosecutors, critics have said his credibility has been damaged by the case. Despite the pope declaring a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse cases, the first allegations against Martinelli were made as early as 2012, meaning it has taken roughly eight years to bring the accused to court.

St. Pius X Seminary Background

St. Pius X is housed in a palazzo in the Vatican across the street from Pope Francis’ residence at Santa Marta guesthouse. The seminarians who attend and reside there, nearly a dozen of them between the ages of 12 and 18, serve as altar boys during papal masses at St. Peter’s Basilica, according to the Catholic News Agency.

Considered a pre-seminary, St. Pius X opened in 1956 under the direction of Pope Pius XII. It is managed by the Opera Don Folchi, an association of Catholic Church priests in the Diocese of Como. Opera Don Folchi has reportedly called the allegations against Martinelli and Radice “mud” and “a violent attack on the church.”

History of the Allegations

The victim’s roommate, Kamil Jarzembowski, says he reported the sexual abuse to Catholic Church authorities in 2012, having witnessed most of it, he says. The molestation took place at night, in the boys’ room, and Jarzembowski says he was threatened not to tell anyone about it.

“Psychologically it was pretty tough to take because I came to the Vatican to serve the church. I was a believer,” he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. “And yet at night I was forced to look at these scenes, with the blackmail that if I talked I would suffer consequences.”

Jarzembowski says he was expelled from the seminary after reporting Martinelli.

Based on the reading of the charges against Radice in court, prosecutors reportedly believe others knew of the allegations against Martinelli by 2013, when Radice wrote a letter to a bishop refuting the victim’s claims.

Prosecutors also claim Radice “falsified a letter from the Como bishop announcing Martinelli’s imminent ordination,” the Associated Press reported.

Jarzembowski says he wrote to many Catholic Church officials over the years, including Pope Francis, about Martinelli, but never got a reply.

Two Italian journalists, Gaetano Pecoraro and Gianluigi Nuzzi, exposed the allegations in print in 2017. The spotlight prompted the Vatican to call for a new investigation. The indictments against Martinelli and Radice were handed down almost two years later.

Diocese of Como’s Reaction

The Diocese of Como issued a statement shortly after Martinelli and Radice were indicted in 2019 saying allegations were made in 2013 and deemed unfounded by diocesan investigators in 2014. At the time Martinelli was ordained in June 2017, his evaluations were “without negative opinion, not even from those who were aware of the accusations made against him years earlier,” the statement said.

The diocese suspended both Martinelli and Radice from active ministry in 2018, pending the outcome of the trial.

At the Vatican Hearing

Reports by the Associated Press said Martinelli and Radice were present during the initial court hearing Oct. 14. Only two pool reporters were permitted inside for the proceedings, due to concerns about overcrowding while the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing.

Neither of the accused spoke publicly, nor have they responded publicly to the accusations.

Both men are expected to appear and testify at the next hearing, scheduled on Oct. 27, the Vatican News reported. Jarzembowski said he also expects to be called to testify.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.