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Ex-diplomat Ventura with President Macron: Serious allegations
Photo: Yoan Valat / AP
The trial of the former Vatican ambassador to France has started in Paris.
Several men accuse the former archbishop of having touched her immorally in 2018 and 2019.
The judiciary had finally started an investigation against the Italian.
The 75-year-old Luigi Ventura did not appear in court, as the French news agency AFP reported.
His lawyer has therefore presented a health certificate for him.
Ventura was initially accused of sexually assaulting another man during a ceremony in Paris City Hall.
Then other men came forward and made allegations.
Last July, the Vatican finally lifted Ventura's diplomatic immunity, clearing the way for criminal proceedings in France.
At the end of last year, Pope Francis accepted Ventura's resignation, he had reached the age limit.
Ventura reportedly moved to Rome last fall.
He denies the allegations - but had always maintained that he wanted to cooperate with the judiciary.
Only in the spring did the Pope accept the resignation of the Lyons Archbishop Cardinal Philippe Barbarin.
Barbarin was acquitted at the end of January by a French appeals court in the process of covering up allegations of abuse.
Nevertheless, he submitted his resignation.
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mxw / dpa