Pope praises Vatican probe

The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI has met with officials investigating a scandal involving the stealing and leaking of secret documents, thanked them and urged them to move ahead quickly with their probes.

He met with cardinals conducting an internal probe and officials conducting a criminal investigation that has ensnared the pope’s butler, Paolo Gabriele. The Italian was arrested 23 May and released under house arrest a week ago pending a decision on whether to indict him.

Vatican spokesman the Rev Federico Lombardi said yesterday that a decision is expected in about ten days.