Vatican officials indicted a former Vatican ambassador Monday on charges of sexually abusing boys in the Dominican Republic.
Jozef Wesolowski served as the Vatican's ambassador to the Caribbean nation from 2008 to 2013.
Two years ago, rumors started circulating that Wesolowski paid to watch Dominican shoeshine boys masturbate.
In light of the allegations, the Holy See recalled Wesolowski to Rome and stripped him off his duties and title.
While in Rome, Wesolowski was also found in possession of child pornography.
In September 2014, the Vatican moved to place Wesolowski under house arrest, pending on a decision by the city-state's criminal court on whether to indict him.
That decision came on Monday, with officials determining trial proceedings should start on July 11.
A statement on the Vatican's official website said.
The President of the Tribunal of Vatican City State, Professor Giuseppe Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, by decree of 6 June 2015 in response to the request submitted by the Office of the Promoter of Justice, has ordered the trial of the former apostolic nuncio to Dominican Republic, Józef Wesołowski. The first hearing of the trial is scheduled for 11 July 2015. The ex-prelate is accused of a number of offences committed both during his stay in Rome from August 2013 until the moment of his arrest (on 22 September 2014) and in the period he spent in the Dominican Republic, during the five years in which he held the office of apostolic nuncio (he was appointed as nuncio to the Dominican Republic on 24 January 2008 and apostolic delegate to Puerto Rico, offices from which he resigned on 21 August 2013).
With regard to the period spent in Rome, the nuncio is charged with the offence of possession of child pornography under Law VIII of 2013 introduced by Pope Francis. The allegations referring to the preceding period are based on evidence transmitted by the judicial authorities of Santo Domingo in relation to the sexual abuse of minors.
These serious allegations will be scrutinised by the competent judicial body which will be assisted by both technical appraisals of the IT systems used by the defendant and, if necessary, international legal cooperation for the evaluation of testimonial evidence from the competent authorities in Santo Domingo. This will be a delicate and detailed procedure, requiring the most careful observations and insights from all parties involved in the trial.