The Vatican has declared the Pope immune from testifying or being sued [View All]

[Bluebear]

Although American lawyers have sought Pope Benedict's testimony in cases involving sexual abuse, the Roman Pontiff cannot be compelled to testify-- nor included as the defendant in a lawsuit-- because as a head of state he enjoys sovereign immunity, a Vatican official has reminded reporters.

"The pope is certainly a head of state, who has the same juridical status as all heads of state," said Giuseppe dalla Torre, who heads the tribunal of the Vatican city-state. The 170 nations that have formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See would recognize the Pope's immunity, he said.

Dalla Torre also pointed out that Pope Benedict is not legally responsible for the administration of individual dioceses or the superivision of diocesan priests. The Catholic Church, he observed, is not like a "multinational corporation" with a single chief executive. Each bishop is solely responsible for the administration of his own diocese.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5909