According to a report by an Italian newspaper, Vatican police raided a top priest’s apartment in June and broke up a gay sex party fueled by drugs.
The priest’s name has not been released, but he is reportedly a secretary to Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, a personal advisor to Pope Francis. What’s more, according to Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, the apartment reportedly belongs to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which is a branch in charge of reviewing appeals for clergy members accused of sexually abusing minors.
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Police reportedly raided the apartment in June after neighbors had complained about unusual behavior from the frequent nighttime visitors coming to the apartment. Police then arrested the priest and had to take him to the hospital so that he could detox from all the drugs in his system. Since gay sex is legal in the Vatican, the arrest was likely made on drug charges. After being taken in for questioning, he is now reportedly on retreat at a convent in Italy.
While the priest was reportedly being considered for advancement to bishop, it is not likely that he will see such a promotion after this incident in addition to two previous alleged drug overdoses, according to an International Business Times report.