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. Paolo Gabriele will be tried alongside Claudio Sciarpelletti, a Vatican
computer expert, in a case which involved the leaking of sensitive documents
alleging corruption in the Vatican.
Gabriele, who helped the pontiff dress, served
him his meals and rode in the front seat of the pope mobile at general
audiences, is accused of taking letters from Benedict's desk and leaking them
to reporters.
The episode, which has been highly embarrassing
for the Vatican, exposed what some saw as a power
struggle among some cardinals
in the Vatican.
According to an indictment last August,
Gabriele told investigators he had acted because he saw "evil and
corruption everywhere in the Church" and wanted to help root it out
"because the pope was not sufficiently informed".
Gabriele, who was arrested on May 23, faces up
to six years in jail. Since the papal state has no prison, he would serve time
in Italian jail unless the pope pardons him while Sciarpelletti is being tried
on lesser charges of aiding and abetting.