A Vatican computer expert accused of helping the Pope’s former butler steal secret correspondence did not know the man well and had little motive to risk his 20 years on the job for him, a defence lawyer argued at the start of the second trial in the scandal.

A Vatican computer worker has denied helping the Pope’s butler to leak confidential documents to the media.

The trial this week of a Vatican computer analyst over his alleged role in an embarrassing scandal of stolen confidential papal documents is offering a chance for an insider glimpse at the Holy See’s security workings.