VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI's jailed butler was released from custody Saturday and placed under house arrest as a decision on whether to indict him neared.

Paolo Gabriele was arrested May 23 on suspicion of stealing and leaking documents in a case that embarrassed the pope while exposing corruption, infighting and power struggles at the Vatican's highest levels.

Gabriele has been allowed to return to his family home within the Vatican pending a decision on whether he will stand trial, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said in a statement.