Pope Abolishes Judicial System Regulations... Senior Clergy to Be Tried in Ordinary Criminal Courts

Pope Francis leading prayer at the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square in the Vatican on the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] Pope Francis is abolishing the judicial regulations for high-ranking clergy of the Vatican City State.

According to major foreign media on the 1st, the Holy See announced a "Motu Proprio" that changes the criminal trial procedures for high-ranking clergy the day before. A Motu Proprio is a papal document issued in response to special and urgent needs.

The existing judicial regulations required cardinals and bishops within the Vatican who were accused of crimes to be tried by a supreme court composed of three cardinal judges. This was widely criticized as a judicial privilege that limited prosecution and trials of high-ranking clergy.

With the abolition of these regulations, high-ranking Vatican clergy will now be tried in ordinary criminal courts like other laypeople or priests.

However, the provision that Vatican judicial authorities must obtain the Pope's approval to investigate and try these individuals remains in place.

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