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.