Vatican court OKs Pope's No 2 as defense witness

Vatican City: A Vatican tribunal has agreed to let the defense call some of Pope Francis' top advisers including the secretary of state as witnesses in the trial of five people accused in a scandal over leaked documents.

Judge Giuseppe Dalla Torre also agreed to admit more complete text messages and emails, as well as letters of recommendation and the results of a monsignor's psychiatric exam into evidence as the trial got underway in earnest on Monday.

It remains to be seen if Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will actually testify.

Three members of a papal reform commission are accused of leaking documents to two reporters who published books detailing waste, mismanagement and greed among some cardinals and bishops. The two reporters are also on trial.