Former archbishop found dead before facing first Vatican paedophilia trial

Former archbishop Jozef Wesolowski has died ahead of facing paedophilia charges in the Vatican.

An ex-papal ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Wesolowski was due to become the first senior cleric to go on trial for paedophilia at the Roman Catholic Church's headquarters.

His trial was originally set for July but had to be postponed the day before it was due to start due to illness.

Wesolowski was due to face charges of paying for sex with minors and possessing child pornography in the first case of its kind to be brought before a Vatican court. He has been under arrest since September last year.

Church officials confirmed that the 67-year-old was found dead in the early hours of this morning at his home in the Vatican.