Europe

Vatican leaks trial nears end with requests for convictions

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Public relations expert Francesca Chaouqui walks next a Vatican Gendarme as she arrives with her newly born son Pietro, at the Vatican for her trial, Monday, July 4, 2016. Two Italian journalists who wrote books detailing Vatican mismanagement face trial in a Vatican courtroom along with three people accused of leaking them the information in a case that has drawn scorn from media watchdogs. (Maurizio Brambatti/ANSA via AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Italian journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi, left, and Emiliano Fittipaldi, arrive for a hearing of their trial, at the Vatican, Monday, July 4, 2016. Two Italian journalists who wrote books detailing Vatican mismanagement face trial in a Vatican courtroom along with three people accused of leaking them the information in a case that has drawn scorn from media watchdogs. (Maurizio Brambatti/ANSA via AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Italian journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi, right, and Emiliano Fittipaldi, left, arrive for a hearing of their trial, at the Vatican, Monday, July 4, 2016. Two Italian journalists who wrote books detailing Vatican mismanagement face trial in a Vatican courtroom along with three people accused of leaking them the information in a case that has drawn scorn from media watchdogs. (Maurizio Brambatti/ANSA via AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Vatican prosecutors have asked a tribunal to absolve one journalist and give a suspended, one-year sentence to another for publishing books based on confidential Vatican documents exposing greed, mismanagement and corruption in the top ranks of the Catholic Church.

In their closing arguments Monday, prosecutors did ask the tribunal to convict a flamboyant PR executive, a Vatican monsignor and his secretary for having formed a "criminal association" with the aim of divulging secret information.

The judges are expected to rule Wednesday.

The highest sentence sought — three years and nine months — was for Francesca Chaouqui, who gave birth to a boy last month. Baby Pietro was in a tribunal side room Monday, but his cries could be heard in the chamber.

Of her proposed sentence, Chaouqui said: "How shameful."