Carlo Alberto Capella

Last updated
The Reverend
Carlo Alberto Capella
BornJuly 1967 (age 58)
NationalityItalian
ReligionChristianity
Church Catholic Church
Ordained1993
Criminal chargesPossession and distribution of child pornography
Criminal penalty5 years in prison and €5,000 fine
Criminal statusReleased

Carlo Alberto Capella is an Italian Catholic priest and Vatican diplomat who was convicted by a Vatican tribunal of possessing and sharing child pornography in 2018. He is one of the few people who have served a prison sentence in the Vatican jail. [1]

Contents

Biography

Born in Carpi, Italy, in July 1967, [2] he was ordained a priest in 1993 for the Archdiocese of Milan. After studies of canon law he entered the Vatican diplomatic corps. He was assigned to the papal nunciature in India in 2003 and to the nunciature in Hong Kong in 2007. In 2008, he was made a Chaplain of His Holiness, which entitled him to the title of monsignor. [3] In 2011 he was transferred to the Vatican to serve in the Secretariat of State. In 2016 he was assigned to the nunciature to the United States. [4] [5]

Conviction

In 2017, Capella was recalled to the Vatican by Pope Francis after United States officials informed the Vatican that he was under investigation for possession and sharing of child pornography. Shortly thereafter, Canada issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging that during a visit to Canada in December 2016 he had possessed and shared child pornography. As a diplomat, he was immune from prosecution in the United States. [3] [5]

In 2018, Capella was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, which he served in the Vatican jail. In a separate canonical trial, he lost the title of Monsignor but was not laicized. [6] As of 2021, he was allowed out during the day to work in an office that handles papal blessings. [1] In 2023, following the end of his prison sentence, Capella was permitted to return to work in the Vatican Secretariat of State. [6]

Of his crimes, Capella has said: "Mistakes I have made are evident as well as this period of weakness. I am sorry that my weakness has hurt the church, the Holy See, and my diocese. I also hurt my family, and I am repentant." [7] Calling his possession and distribution of child pornography "a bump in the road in my priestly life," Capella said he wanted to continue receiving "psychological support."

References

  1. 1 2 Harlan, Chico; Pitrelli, Stefano (2021-10-15). "The Vatican has three jail cells, one prisoner — and suddenly, a surge of people on trial". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. ↑ Tornielli, Andrea (2018-04-07). "Pedopornografia, il Vaticano arresta il monsignore-diplomatico". La Stampa. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. 1 2 "Carlo Alberto Capella: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. 2018-04-07. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. ↑ "Processo in Vaticano: mons. Capella ammette accuse, "ero in crisi". Prossima udienza domani". SIR news agency. 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. 1 2 Wootson, Cleve; Zauzmer, Julie (2018-06-09). "Former Vatican diplomat to Washington indicted on child porn charge". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  6. 1 2 "Vatican official jailed for child pornography returns to work". The Pillar. 2025-07-17. Retrieved 2025-07-20.
  7. ↑ "Priest convicted of distributing, possessing child pornography said to still work at Vatican | Franciscan Media". 2025-07-17. Retrieved 2025-08-02.
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