Lombardi: Investigations into leaking of documents continues
Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. today made the following
declaration concerning investigations taking place in the Vatican on the leaking of
reserved documents. "I can confirm that the individual arrested on Wednesday evening
for illegal possession of reserved documents, which were found in his domicile located
within Vatican territory, is Mr. Paolo Gabriele, who is still being held in detention. "The
first phase of the 'summary investigation' under the direction of Nicola Picardi,
promoter of justice, has come to an end and given way to the phase of 'formal investigation',
which is being conducted by Piero Antonio Bonnet, investigating magistrate. "The
accused has appointed two lawyers to represent him who are authorised to act before
the Vatican Tribunal, and he has had the opportunity to meet with them. They will
be able to help him in successive stages of the proceedings. He benefits from all
the juridical guarantees laid down by the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure
in force in Vatican City State. "The investigatory phase will continue until an
adequate picture of the situation being investigated has emerged, after which the
investigating magistrate will either acquit the suspect or send him for trial".