Isn’t he in a jolly mood, that saucy old cad.

The Associated Press report that the Pope has granted his former butler a Christmas pardon, forgiving him in person during a jailhouse meeting for stealing and leaking his private papers in one of the gravest Vatican security breaches in recent times.

Fifteen minutes after the meeting, the former servant for God’s emissary on earth was freed, and returned to his Vatican City apartment, and his wife and children.

“This is a paternal gesture toward someone with whom the pope for many years shared daily life,” according to a statement from the Vatican secretariat of state.

But speaking of grace and mercy, our favourite Pontifex remarked somewhat glibly yesterday that homosexuality is a threat to the future of human kind.

Happy holidays, everyone!

[Source: Associated Press, Telegraph]