August 13, 2012

Pope's butler, 2nd layman face trial in theft case

The indictment today accuses Paolo Gabriele, the butler under arrest since May at the Vatican, of grand theft.

The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — A Vatican judge has ordered the pope's butler and a fellow lay employee to stand trial in the scandal of pilfered documents from Pope Benedict XVI's private apartment.

click image to enlarge

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing as he arrives at St. Peter's square at the Vatican for a general audience in this May, 23, 2012, photo. His personal butler Paolo Gabriele is at lower left.

AP

The indictment today accuses Paolo Gabriele, the butler under arrest since May at the Vatican, of grand theft.

While the Vatican had insisted throughout the investigation that Gabriele was the only person under investigation, the indictment also orders trial for Claudio Sciarpelletti. He is a layman in the Secretariat of State office and is charged with aiding and abetting Gabriele.

The scandal embarrassed the Vatican, exposing infighting at high church levels, primarily involving Italian prelates.

The Vatican has promised a public trial. No date was immediately announced.

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