Pope’s butler and lay official to stand trial in theft case

The Pope’s butler and a fellow lay employee are to stand trial over documents stolen from the pontiff’s private apartment.

The indictment brought by a Vatican judge accuses Paolo Gabriele, the butler under arrest since May at the Vatican, of grand theft. Stolen items include some of the Pope’s documents and a cheque made out to the Pope for €100,000.

While the Vatican had insisted throughout that Mr Gabriele was the only person under investigation, the indictment also orders trial for Claudio Sciarpelletti. He is a computer expert in the secretariat of state office who is charged with aiding and abetting Mr Gabriele.

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

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

Judge Piero Antonio Bonnet ruled there was no evidence to indict Mr Sciarpelletti on a charge of revealing secrets and insufficient evidence for a charge of grand theft.

There had been wide- spread speculation about the possibility of a mole in the secretary of state’s office since some of the leaked documents seemed aimed at casting doubt at Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone’s ability to be the Vatican’s No 2 as secretary of state.

Mr Gabriele, who is married, lives with his family in the Vatican City. After several weeks in isolation in a Vatican cell, he was released to house arrest over the summer.

Mr Sciarpelletti’s office was searched on May 24, hours after Mr Gabriele’s arrest, Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said.

Mr Sciarpelletti was arrested and spent one night in a Vatican security cell, but was released when it appeared clear his role was not a key one, the spokesman said. The Vatican insisted Mr Gabriele was the only known suspect. “You can’t speak of an accomplice... but he was an acquaintance who could help Gabriele,” Rev Lombardi said.

The indictment noted that in Mr Sciarpelletti’s desk a white envelope was found, sealed, with “Personal P. Gabriele” on the front and a secretariat of state’s stamp on the back.

Sciarpelletti has been suspended with pay.