VATICAN CITY
National Post (Canada)

Philip Pullella, Reuters Jul 12, 2012

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict’s butler, suspected of leaking documents that allege corruption in the Vatican, was denied a requested transfer to house arrest and ordered on Thursday to remain in a small police ‘safe room’, where he prays daily.

The Vatican said a prosecutor had decided to keep Paolo Gabriele, 46, in preventive custody beyond the usual 50 days that Vatican law says a defendant can be held before being ordered to stand trial. The period can be doubled in some cases.

But spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told reporters this did not mean that Gabriele would spend another 50 days in the room at the Vatican police station, which measures 3.5 by 4 metres (11.5 by 13 feet), and has a single small window, a small table and a separate bathroom.

He said the prosecutor, Piero Antonio…