PAPAL BUTLER'S THEFT TRIAL UNDERWAY............

The judicial trial of Paolo Gabriele, the butler for Pope Benedict XVI, charged with the theft of papal papers and other possessions from the Holy Father's residence in Vatican City, began on Saturday.  It reaches its pivotal moments today, just three days later with the cross examination and testimony of Gabriele himself, who has already admitted to passing papal documents to Italian author Gianluigi Nuzzi, who in May of this year published the book, "His Holiness: The Secret Papers Of Benedict XVI".  The book reports internal rivalries with the Vatican's inner circle, steeped in political maneuvering and even corruption.  Gabriele in admitting his role in pilfering and passing papal documents, has said he was acting under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and for the good of the Church, seeking to expose and eradicate, "evil and corruption".  The trial judge indicated Saturday that the proceedings may be concluded within the week.  In addition to Gabriele, eight other persons, 6 police officers, a woman Religious who works in the papal apartment, and Msgr. Georg Ganswein, Pope Benedict's private secretary; are testifying as witnesses at Gabriele's trial.  What will not be entered into evidence by determination of the Court is the Report of the Commission of 3 Senior Cardinals appointed by the Pope to investigate the so called, "Vatileaks" incident.  Thus, any information discovered by them will not be entered into consideration.  If convicted, Gabriele faces a sentence of up to 4 years in an Italian prison, with Vatican City State having only holding cells.  But there is an emerging expectation that the former butler will receive a pardon from the Pope and serve a relatively short sentence, if that............Fr.  Troy