Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic began a criminal investigation into the Vatican's former ambassador to the Caribbean island nation.  It comes a day after a local church official revealed Pope Francis had recalled the envoy because of child abuse allegations.

The Vatican itself has not revealed the accusations against Archbishop Josef Wesolowski, but does confirm the Polish-born cleric was removed from his post and that the church was conducting an investigation of him.

Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito says his office has yet to receive any allegations against the former Nuncio. 

“We will not allow anyone to use the Catholic Church or other religious institutions as a shield to commit illegal acts, especially against children,” Dominguez said.

An internal church report last month connected Wesolowski with child abuse and pedophilia, according to Monsignor Agripino Nunez Collado – the rector of a Catholic university and spokesman for the Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic.

“It is a situation that really shames and hurts the conscience of all Catholics,” Nunez said.  “Really when there are these kinds of situations, justice must be done.”

Nunez also said he was unaware of the specifics against Wesolowski, possibly because he worked directly for the Vatican and not the local church.  Wesolowski’s current whereabouts are unclear.