Vatican envoy to France under investigation for sexual assault

The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation on January 24, the source said.

Ventura, 74, has been based in Paris since 2009, serving as a diplomat for Pope Francis, as reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The Vatican said in a statement that the Holy See was aware of the investigation and that it "awaits the results." While the Vatican's embassy in Paris said it would not comment on the investigation.

The development comes after a hellish year for the Catholic Church that saw more revelations of abuse and coverups, prominent resignations and a former Vatican ambassador urging the Pope himself to step down.

The clergy sex abuse scandal has continued into 2019, with a federal investigation and probes across the United States in the works.

In January Pope Francis blasted bishops across the US for their approach to the crisis, saying that the church's credibility had been undermined.

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