Scottish Catholic Observer

As no appeal has been filed in the criminal case against Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler, who was found guilty of stealing Papal documents, he has been moved to a Vatican cell to serve his sentence.

Paolo Gabriele (above) was given an 18-month prison sentence on October 6. As neither his lawyer nor the Vatican prosecutor has entered an appeal, the former butler’s sentence and his dismissal have now become definitive. However, the Vatican secretary of state’s office has left open the possibility of a Papal pardon if Mr Gabriele repents and seeks forgiveness. In a statement released today, the Vatican secretariat of state has said that the definitive sentence ‘puts a full stop to the end of a sad affair which has had very painful consequences.’

“A personal offence was done to the Holy Father; the right to privacy of the many people who, by virtue of their office, addressed themselves to him was violated; the Holy See and a number of her institutions suffered prejudice; communications between the bishops of the world and the Holy See were hindered, and scandal was caused among the community of the Faithful,” the statement said. “Finally, for a period of many months the serenity of the working community which daily serves the Successor of Peter was disturbed.”

The statement went on to state that the possibility of pardon for Mr Gabriele still remains.

“It does, however, reasonably presuppose repentance on the part of the accused, and a sincere request for pardon to the Supreme Pontiff and those who have been unjustly offended,” the statement said. “In relation to the harm caused, the term inflicted appears both lenient and just, a fact due to the specific nature of the legislative system from which it arises.”

The trial of Mr Gabriele’s co-defendant, Claudio Sciarpelletti, is due to start on November 5. The computer expert is accused of helping Mr Gabriele while working in the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.

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