VATICAN CITY – A priest in northern Italy, Father Gabriele Martinelli, has been convicted by the Vatican Appeals Court on charges of sexually abusing a choir boy and seminarian in St Peter's Basilica. He has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison, as per the Vatican. This ruling overturned his initial acquittal in 2021. 

 The judges ruled on Tuesday that Martinelli was guilty of "the corruption of minors." Martinelli was accused of "using violence and threats" and "abusing" his authority to coerce the victim into "sexual intercourse" multiple times over the course of several years, when they were both seminarians. This conviction is in line with Pope Francis's promise to crackdown on sexual abuse in the Church. 

 The public were first made aware of allegations against Martinelli in November 2017, after victims and witnesses of sexual abuse in the Vatican came forward in Gianluigi Nuzzi’s book Peccato Originale. Investigations began shortly after. The same year, Martinelli was ordained as a priest.

 In 2021, Martinelli was absolved of wrongdoing by the Vatican courts and he was found not guilty of coercion. However, the court believed there was evidence of the ‘corruption of minors’ but did not prosecute him on the grounds that the statute of limitations had expired. Martinelli’s initial trial was the Vatican’s first regarding sexual abuse taking place in the Vatican's territory.  

 After the sentence was announced, the victim’s lawyer, Laura Sgrò, declared this ruling "historic." She added that she hoped that this case would "invite an even deeper reflection on the topic of abuse within the Church."

 However, Martinelli still may appeal this ruling. It has not yet been announced whether he is to remain as a priest.

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