Vatican butler doesn't appeal sentence

VATICAN, Vatican City, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI's former butler did not appeal his 18-month prison sentence for stealing Vatican documents, the man's lawyer said.

Cristiana Arru, representing Paolo Gabriele, told ANSA, she did not file an appeal by Wednesday's deadline.

The Rev. Father Federico Lombardi, the pope's spokesman, said Benedict was "very likely" to use his power to pardon Gabriele.

Gabriele was sentenced Saturday, a day after being convicted of stealing and copying Vatican documents containing allegations of corruption in the management of the church. He leaked the papers to an Italian journalist.

Prosecutors had called for a three-year prison term. The Vatican court opted for 18 months because Gabriele had no criminal record.

The butler said he leaked the documents because he thought the pope was being manipulated by some of his advisers.