The Atlantic - Alexander Stille, 10/15/12
Though opened to a few journalists, the trial offered mere hints of what's actually going on behind closed doors. The accused was effectively muzzled.
Tony Gentile/Reuters
Since posting our article on the "Vati-leaks" case, Paolo Gabriele, the Pope's former butler, was convicted by a Vatican court of misappropriating papal documents and leaking them to the Italian press. Almost immediately, Father Federico Lombardi, indicated that it was "very likely" that the pope would, at some point, pardon Gabriele.
The court sentenced Gabriele to three years in prison, but reduced the term to 18 months, citing the remorse the pope's former attendant had shown. Explaining his actions, Gabriele told the court that "he felt the strong conviction deep inside to have acted exclusively for love, a visceral love, for the Church" and the pope.
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