A Catholic priest tied to a child pornography investigation in Windsor has been arrested.
The Vatican Press Office confirmed Saturday via the Vatican News that Monsignor Carlo Capella has been taken into custody by the Vatican, at the request of the Vatican City State Tribunal. He is being held by their gendarmerie, or their law enforcement corps, according to the statement.
Capella has been at the centre of an investigation stretching back to last year, when Windsor Police confirmed they were looking into allegations that Capella had uploaded child pornography to a social networking site. The uploading reportedly took place in Windsor on several occasions in December 2016.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Capella in September 2017, with charges of accessing, possessing and distributing child pornography. The New York Times reported that Capella, working in Washington, DC at the time, was then recalled to the Vatican, with the Vatican vowing to find out everything they could about Capella's alleged actions.
The Vatican first became aware of the case when the U.S. State Department contacted them in August 2017, concerning an alleged violation of the law by one of its diplomats. Capella's arrest capped a long-term investigation by the Vatican.
Windsor police said at the time that the uploading of child pornography took place at a place of worship within the city, but did not disclose which one. Police also said that the content did not involve local children.
If found guilty on child pornography charges under a 2013 law signed by Pope Francis, Capella could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of up to 250,000 euros.
---with files from Kirk Dickinson
