VATICAN ENVOY TO FRANCE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT

The Vatican’s envoy to France is under investigation for sexual assault after being accused of molesting an official at the Paris mayor’s office. The envoy, Luigi Ventura, 74, has been based in Paris since 2009 and serves as a diplomat for Pope Francis and is covered by diplomatic immunity. He was accused of molesting a 30-year-old man at the Paris town hall on January 17 when mayor Anne Hidalgo gave a New Year’s address to diplomats, religious leaders and civil society figures. “During the ceremony, a city employee was repeatedly groped... in three instances, once in front of a witness,” a townhall source said. AFP