Why did the butler do it?

Vatileaks trial: Paoletto repents

 

It’s the defence’s new strategy: Paolo Gabriele is no longer a scapegoat or a pawn but a guilty man, eager to make amends. His family is hoping for a pardon from the Pope

giacomo galeazzivatican city


From “scapegoat” to a repentant worker who regrets his infidelity to his employer and is concerned for his children. There has been a drastic change in the image of Paolo Gabriele being filtered out through the media.  The new picture being painted of the poison pen letter writer is one of “repentance and redemption” amidst an atmosphere of “tension and hope.” After his confession, Gabriele’s non-involvement in the notified facts is no longer being upheld and he is no longer treated as the innocent pawn in a game that is greater than him. He has gone from being a mere instrument, to a guilty man who is eager to make amends for his wrongdoing. The image being painted of the Pope’s former butler appearing before the judge, is a defence strategy that aims to show Gabriele is claiming responsibility for his acts and to secure the Pope’s pardon.

The butler’s blatant violation of his oath of confidentiality, is being downgraded to an “emergency action” taken whilst in a state of serious mental stress. A milder portrayal then, compared to the initial condemnation of the conspiracy against the weakest link in the chain: “Right now Paolo is mentally worn out because as the date of the trial nears he is becoming increasingly aware of how his actions have dragged his whole family into it and it is now paying the consequences in human terms,” people close to Paolo Gabriele’s family told ANSA news agency, describing the mental state of the Pope’s former butler whose trial begins Saturday. “Paolo’s main concern at the moment are his children. He is particularly worried about the upheaval media coverage of the case will bring to their lives.” They said the Gabrieles have spoke to their children and have tried to explain what is happening, but of course, it is “impossible” to fully shield them from an event that has had such enormous repercussions.
 
According to the same sources, tension in the family has been increasing since the date of the first hearing was announced. It is true that Paolo was aware of the risks he faced when he did what he did but finding himself in court for is something else altogether. Now he has really become aware of the full extent of his actions. But his family remains hopeful that the trial will not drag on for too long and that after the verdict is given the Pope will grant him a pardon.
 
On Saturday, the Pope’s former butler will appear in court before Judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre (President of the Tribunal of Vatican City State) to respond to the accusations of aggravated theft. What all Paolo Gabriele’s friends and the people close to him have in common to some extent is the hope that the trial will finally bring to light the real reasons behind his actions. The general feeling is that for Gabriele to do what he did, he must have witnessed something very serious going on around the Pope. Otherwise, “we” cannot explain how “the Paolo Gabriele we know” could have acted the way he did.