Vatican Says Disclosing Emails in Court Clash Is a ‘Grave Sin’

  • Church being sued in London in case linked to real estate deal
  • Financier seeking texts, emails between cardinal and bishop

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Photographer: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

A Vatican official said it would be a “grave sin” if the church was forced to turn over texts and emails in a UK trial stemming from a London real estate deal.

A representative for the Vatican said in a court filing that WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and email messages between an archbishop and a cardinal were protected by “pontifical secret,” a rule that applies to sensitive information related to aspects of church governance.