File photo - The pope's former butler, Paolo Gabriele, was convicted of aggravated theft for leaking confidential papal documents and sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Vatican's tribunal in Rome, Vatican on October 6, 2012. He was convicted of stealing the pope's private papers and leaking them to journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi who published them in a best-selling book. He was also ordered to pay the costs of the trial at the Vatican City courthouse. Presiding judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre said he was reducing the three-year term requested by the prosecution to 18 months because of mitigating circumstances. Gabriele, 46, worked in Pope Benedict XVI's private apartments as a butler, serving the Pope at table but also held other office duties. Paolo Gabriele, 54, the former butler of Benedict XVI, condemned by the Vatican court in 2012 but pardoned by Ratzinger a few months later, shortly before resigning, has died, it was announced today. Photo by ABACAPRESS.COM