Pope keen to get on with probe

Pope Benedict XVI is not afraid about what might emerge in the widening investigation into leaked documents and is encouraging prosecutors to get to the truth over one of the most serious Holy See scandals in recent history, a Vatican spokesman said yesterday.

But the Rev Federico Lombardi said Benedict was pained by the leaks. The pontiff’s personal butler has been arrested and accused of theft, after documents were found in his Vatican City apartment. The butler, Paolo Gabriele, is due to be formally questioned in the coming days by Vatican prosecutors .