Cardinal sees papal pardon likely for ‘Vatileaks’ suspect

October 02, 2012

If Paolo Gabriele is convicted of stealing confidential Vatican documents, Pope Benedict XVI is likely to grant a pardon to his former valet, in the opinion of an influential Vatican cardinal.

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the former head of the Vatican’s prefecture for economic affairs, told the Italian daily La Repubblica that only the Pope can make the decision to pardon someone convicted by a Vatican tribunal. However, he observed that if a criminal expresses contrition, Popes have historically taken “measures dictated by the mercy that is the essence of the Church.”

Cardinal De Paolis expressed confidence that the trial of Gabriele will resolve all questions about the “Vatileaks” scandal, that the papal valet acted alone in leaking documents, and that “there will be no surprises.”

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal: Pope Likely to Pardon Valet (National Catholic Register)