National/World

Decision on pope's butler due next week

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Pope Benedict XVI, flanked by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the pope's vicar for the diocese of Rome, right, delivers his address during the opening day of Rome's dioceses ecclesiastic meeting at St. John at the Lateran Basilica in Rome, Monday, June 11, 2012. The pontiff called for his aides near and far to remain loyal to him as the Vatican copes with the fallout of a growing scandal over leaked documents and the controversial ouster of Ettore Gotti Tedeschi. The Vatican says it "truly regrets" the publication of a letter from a psychotherapist detailing the mental health of the Vatican's recently ousted bank chief. In a statement to The Associated Press, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the publication of the letter was "completely unacceptable and cause for true regret, in particular from the point of view of the respect that should be owed to the interested people". (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) (AP Photo)

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pope benedict xvi, vatican, italy, national/world

Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) - August 8, 2012 (WPVI) -- The Vatican says it will announce its decision Monday on whether to order the pope's butler to stand trial in the theft and leaking of secret documents that have embarrassed the church.

Paolo Gabriele was arrested May 23, so far the only person ensnared in a criminal investigation. He was released under house arrest July 21 pending a decision on whether to indict him.

Gabriele's lawyers have told reporters that Gabriele had fully cooperated with the investigation, and that they would be ready to face a trial in case of an indictment, which they say they expect. They deny that he was part of any conspiracy.