Italian journalists' union FNSI
and the free-speech advocacy group Articolo 21 demonstrated
outside the Vatican before the resumption of the so-called
Vatileaks 2 trial Tuesday.
The two groups showed banners in favour of freedom of
expression and information including "Freedom of reporting
cannot be put on trial, #nogag".
In the trial, investigative reporters Emiliano Fittipaldi
and Gianlugi Nuzzi are accused of using leaked documents from
three Vatican officials to write two expose'-style books,
respectively Avarice and The Way of the Cross, which
respectively examine the Vatican's financial empire and Pope
Francis's efforts to bring about reform.
The other defendants are Italian PR expert Francesca
Chaouqi and Spanish prelate Monsignor Lucio Vallejo Balda, both
former members of the now-defunct COSEA commission set up to
advise Pope Francis on the reform of the Holy See's economic and
administrative structure, and Balda's former assistant Nicola
Maio.
Chaouqui said Wednesday she had come to the hearing against
medical advice - she is almost eight months' pregnant - in order
to "get my truth across".
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