The Vatican butler accused of leaking documents is Paolo Gabriele. He is a 46-year-old Italian layman who has worked in the Vatican since 1998. He is married and has three children.
Writing in National Catholic Reporter, John L Allen Jr outlines the evidence against him.
He then suggests motives behind the leaking of confidential information to the press, raises the possibility that Cardinal Bertone may be the target of a plot, and outlines the damage to the Vatican.
John L Allen Jr is NCR Senior Correspondent.