Pope Butler

The Vatican said on Monday that a report into papal documents leaked by Pope Benedict's butler in the so-called "Vatileaks scandal" last year will remain confidential and only be shown to the next pontiff.

Pope Benedict XVI granted his former butler a Christmas pardon Saturday, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times.

A Vatican computer technician will go on trial on Monday on charges of helping the pope's former butler steal papers, in a case that could expose other whistle-blowers within the secretive Holy See.

The Vatican tribunal that convicted the pope's ex-butler of stealing private papal correspondence sharply condemned the theft on Tuesday as causing "reprehensible" damage to the pontiff, the Holy See and the entire Catholic Church, and said investigations are continuing.

Vatican investigators have found photos and short videos of Pope Benedict XVI filmed with a mobile phone by his butler Paolo Gabriele, the Corriere della Sera daily reported online on Thursday.

The Pope's butler was convicted on Saturday of stealing the Pope's private documents and leaking them to a journalist, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

He had the trust of Pope Benedict XVI and the cardinals, monsignors and priests who run the Roman Catholic Church. And because of his privileged position as papal butler, he had access to their deepest secrets: confidential letters, memos, financial reports.

Defence lawyer Cristiana Arru sought to turn the spotlight on police methods during the search, drawing out several agents to say that they had not used gloves when they handled the documents, and a gold nugget and a cheque for 100,000 euros made out to the pope which were also found.

Pope Benedict XVI's onetime butler declared on Tuesday that he was innocent of a charge of aggravated theft of the pope's private correspondence, but acknowledged he photocopied the papers and said he feels guilty that he betrayed the trust of the pontiff he loves like a father.

Pope Benedict's former butler, facing trial for stealing papal documents, told a Vatican court on Tuesday that he was held in a tiny room with the light on constantly and put under pyschological pressure in the first few weeks of his detention.

The "Vatileaks" scandal that has led to the trial of Pope Benedict XVI's butler for theft involves hundreds of letters that passed across the pope's desk over several months in 2011 and early 2012. The documents offer an unprecedented glimpse into internal politics at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler Paolo Gabriele went on trial on Saturday for leaking confidential Vatican memos that revealed cloak-and-dagger politics among the pope's closest aides.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler goes on trial on Saturday for leaking secret papers in the Vatican's biggest court drama in decades, revealing intrigue at the heart of the Catholic Church.

The trial of Pope Benedict's former butler on charges of aggravated theft in the so-called "Vatileaks" scandal will start on September 29, the Vatican said on Monday.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler and another Vatican employee must stand trial for stealing and leaking confidential papers in the latest scandal to afflict the Catholic Church, a magistrate ruled on Monday.

The Vatican said on Monday that a report into papal documents leaked by Pope Benedict's butler in the so-called "Vatileaks scandal" last year will remain confidential and only be shown to the next pontiff.

Pope Benedict XVI granted his former butler a Christmas pardon Saturday, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times.

A Vatican computer technician will go on trial on Monday on charges of helping the pope's former butler steal papers, in a case that could expose other whistle-blowers within the secretive Holy See.

The Vatican tribunal that convicted the pope's ex-butler of stealing private papal correspondence sharply condemned the theft on Tuesday as causing "reprehensible" damage to the pontiff, the Holy See and the entire Catholic Church, and said investigations are continuing.

Vatican investigators have found photos and short videos of Pope Benedict XVI filmed with a mobile phone by his butler Paolo Gabriele, the Corriere della Sera daily reported online on Thursday.

The Pope's butler was convicted on Saturday of stealing the Pope's private documents and leaking them to a journalist, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

He had the trust of Pope Benedict XVI and the cardinals, monsignors and priests who run the Roman Catholic Church. And because of his privileged position as papal butler, he had access to their deepest secrets: confidential letters, memos, financial reports.

Defence lawyer Cristiana Arru sought to turn the spotlight on police methods during the search, drawing out several agents to say that they had not used gloves when they handled the documents, and a gold nugget and a cheque for 100,000 euros made out to the pope which were also found.

Pope Benedict XVI's onetime butler declared on Tuesday that he was innocent of a charge of aggravated theft of the pope's private correspondence, but acknowledged he photocopied the papers and said he feels guilty that he betrayed the trust of the pontiff he loves like a father.

Pope Benedict's former butler, facing trial for stealing papal documents, told a Vatican court on Tuesday that he was held in a tiny room with the light on constantly and put under pyschological pressure in the first few weeks of his detention.

The "Vatileaks" scandal that has led to the trial of Pope Benedict XVI's butler for theft involves hundreds of letters that passed across the pope's desk over several months in 2011 and early 2012. The documents offer an unprecedented glimpse into internal politics at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler Paolo Gabriele went on trial on Saturday for leaking confidential Vatican memos that revealed cloak-and-dagger politics among the pope's closest aides.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler goes on trial on Saturday for leaking secret papers in the Vatican's biggest court drama in decades, revealing intrigue at the heart of the Catholic Church.

The trial of Pope Benedict's former butler on charges of aggravated theft in the so-called "Vatileaks" scandal will start on September 29, the Vatican said on Monday.

Pope Benedict XVI's former butler and another Vatican employee must stand trial for stealing and leaking confidential papers in the latest scandal to afflict the Catholic Church, a magistrate ruled on Monday.