Vatican court hears graphic description of sexual abuse of altar boy in landmark trial

Whistleblower Kamil Jarzembowski went public with his testimony about the sexual abuse of an altar boy in 2017

Credit: AP

An unprecedented trial opened in a Vatican court on Wednesday in which two priests face the first ever charges of sex abuse within the stone ramparts of the tiny sovereign state.

Father Gabriele Martinelli is accused of repeatedly raping an altar boy in an institution right at the heart of the Vatican, just a few yards from the residence where Pope Francis lives.

Father Enrico Radice, 72, the rector of the institution, is accused of aiding and abetting him by covering up the abuse, which was only uncovered by the work of an Italian investigative journalist.

In the opening hearing of the trial, the Vatican tribunal heard graphic details of the alleged crimes perpetrated by Father Martinelli.

In charges which were read aloud in the courtroom, he was accused of forcing the altar boy, known only by the initials LG, to “undergo carnal acts, acts of sodomy, masturbation on himself and on the boy, at different times and in different places inside Vatican City.”

He allegedly used threats of violence and intimidation to coerce the boy into sexual acts.

The Vatican courthouse where the trial is being held 

Credit: AFP

The abuse allegedly happened between 2007 and 2012 in the St Pius X seminary, a sort of boarding school for altar boys aged 12 and up who serve Mass in St Peter’s Basilica. Often they go on to join the priesthood.

It allegedly began when LG was 13. Martinelli, now aged, 28, went on to become a priest.

Prosecutors accuse Father Radice of knowing about the abuse but doing nothing to stop it or to prevent Martinelli from being ordained.

The rector is accused of trying to mislead his bishop as well as investigators, saying the allegations of the victim were without foundation.

The case came to light when the abuse was reported by another altar boy who shared a room with LG.

The witness, a Pole named Kamil Tadeusz Jazembowski, alleged that Martinelli would come into the room at night to have sex with LG.

Mr Jazembowski was later expelled from the institution but his testimony prompted a Vatican investigation that began in 2017.

“I don’t blame the priests for being gay. All this is a vast hypocrisy. During the day these people are homophobic, at night they are unleashed in gay clubs,” Mr Jazembowski, who is also gay, said in 2017.

Martinelli himself was a minor for most of the time in which the abuse took place.

Neither of the defendants entered a plea during the hearing, which lasted just eight minutes.

When the allegations were first made public three years ago, a cardinal who serves as Archpriest of St Peter’s Basilica flatly denied them.

“I’m not aware of any abuses,” Angelo Comastri said. “I never knew anything about boys being abused.”

The trial was adjourned until October 27, when the defendants are expected to give evidence.