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Pope's Ex-Butler to Stand Trial Over 'VatiLeaks'

Paolo Gabriele currently under house arrest

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 13, 2012 7:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pope Benedict's former butler is going on trial over the "VatiLeaks" scandal, per the order of a Vatican judge today. Paolo Gabriele was charged in May with leaking sensitive information about the Vatican, and is currently under house arrest, the BBC reports. Gabriele was one of just a few people with access to the papal apartments, and police found confidential documents at his home. He confessed to taking the papers, his lawyer says, but he claimed to have believed he was acting in the Church's best interests.

Rumors have swirled around Gabriele, with some saying he's actually part of a larger group of whistleblowers headed by a cardinal; others believe he's actually a scapegoat. The AP notes that a conviction could land Gabriele in prison for one to six years ... but that depends "on any possible pardon" from the pope, says a rep for the Vatican.

In this May, 23, 2012, file photo Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he arrives at St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience with his personal butler Paolo Gabriele.
In this May, 23, 2012, file photo Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he arrives at St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience with his personal butler Paolo Gabriele.   (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
ohio1989
Aug 14, 2012 7:17 PM CDT
Maybe a lot more truths will emerge as the trial progresses.Here's an outfit that has abused the faithful forever.I think the pope was doing sister Teresa at some point.Send money to support the butler.Yeah!
gimmebeano
Aug 13, 2012 3:35 PM CDT
When I first heard this story, it struck me as peculiar that the Vatican went after this butler so viciously, but have worked so hard over the decades to cover-up and deny the countless cases of child molestation committed by Vatican personnel.  One of the things that disturbs me the most about the Catholic people that I have known is the fact that they tend to put the priests on a higher-than-human pedestal and grant them almost superhuman powers, like devine forgiveness, "blessing" someone or something, and as stated in this article ... the Pope has the ability to "pardon" the butler.  The Pope, the Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, etc are mere humans, but are not treated as such by the church's followers.  I just don't get it, and when you couple that with all the cover-ups, re-assignments, denials of wrong-doing, etc, I am baffled by the loyalty and generosity of the Catholic people.
auroracouture
Aug 13, 2012 10:26 AM CDT
the vatican is a bunch of delusional sexually repressed old men who rape little girls and boys.  rapist mafia!

 
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Vatican • Roman Catholic Church • Tarcisio Bertone • Paolo Gabriele • Vatican leaks

 
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