Vatican PR arrested by police protests innocence on Facebook

One of the two people arrested on Monday in connection with confidential documents allegedly leaked to an Italian journalist who plans to publish them in a book has protested her innocence.

Francesca Chaouqui, a former member of the Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organisation of the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See, was taken into custody by Vatican police along with Mgr Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, secretary of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See.

Chaouqui was released due to her cooperation with the investigation, the Vatican said yesterday while Mgr Balda remains in custody.

On her Facebook page on Tuesday Ms Chaouqui claimed in Italian that she had not betrayed Pope Francis and declared that she had “nothing to be ashamed of”, after her arrest.

“I have not betrayed the Pope,” Ms Chaouqui wrote in Italian. “I have never given a [single piece of paper] to no one. Anybody.

“It [The truth] will emerge soon for certain and I have total trust in the investigators.”

THE VATILEAKS SAGA...

Something old, something new ... nothing borrowed - Christopher Lamb

Vatican PR arrested by police protests innocence on Facebook - Sean Smith

Pursuit of power behind Vati-leaks II saga - Christopher Lamb

Two Vatican officials arrested for leaked financial documents - Sean Smith

She added: “There's nothing I've loved and defended more than the Church and the Pope. Not even my dignity.

“I have had to stay at home and I could not go to the Vatican but, as always, I put the Pope before anything.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of,” she added.

According to the laws of Vatican City State, those convicted of unlawfully leaking private documents can face imprisonment from six months to two years or face fines from 1,000-5,000 euros.