Catholic priest wanted for alleged child porn offences committed in Windsor church

A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a high-ranking Vatican diplomat who police believe committed child pornography offences at a Windsor church during the Christmas holidays.

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Monsignor Carlo Capella, 50, is wanted for accessing, possessing and distributing child pornography, according to Windsor police.

"The Diocese of London confirms that it was asked to, and did, assist in an investigation around suspicions involving Msgr. Capella's possible violations of child pornography laws by using a computer address at a local Church," wrote spokesperson Nelson Couto in a media release.

He added the diocese won't be making any further comments at the request of Windsor police.

The investigation began after the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre contacted the police's Internet Child Exploitation Unit with information a suspect in the city had allegedly uploaded child pornography to a social networking site during a visit.

The pornography is not believed to involve any Windsor-Essex children.

Priest has returned to Italy

Canadian investigators have determined Capella has returned to his residence in Italy.

A Sept. 15 article in The New York Times states a Msgr. Carlo Capella working as a diplomat for the Holy See in Washington, was brought back to the Vatican after American authorities potentially sought to charge him with possession of child pornography.

The article links to a statement from the Vatican that explains a "member of the diplomatic corps of the Holy See accredited to Washington" has been recalled.

"Having received such information from the United States government, the Secretariat of State transmitted this information to the Promoter of Justice of the Vatican Tribunal," reads the statement. "The Promoter of Justice opened an investigation and has already commenced international collaboration to obtain elements relative to the case."

Capella has ties to the United States, Windsor, Canada and Italy.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Windsor Police Public Information Officer at (519) 255-6700 ext. 4250.