Pope Updated on Investigation into "Vatileaks"

Pope Benedict XVI has been informed of conclusions reached by the commission of investigation into leaked Vatican documents and about the progress of current criminal procedures underway, according to the latest Vatican statement released today. 

The Pope, who is keen that this matter be resolved quickly, has also asked for magistrates to proceed "expeditiously."

Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi told reporters that the Vatican's judiciary will decide, probably at the beginning of the week of August 6-12, whether to acquit or send to trial the Pope's former valet, Paolo Gabriele, on charges of aggravated theft of confidential documents.

The statement reads:

"Yesterday morning 26 July, the Holy Father received in audience the Commission of Cardinals which is undertaking the administrative investigation into the leaking of reserved information: Cardinal Julián Herranz, Cardinal Jozef Tomko and Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi. The cardinals were accompanied by Fr. Luigi Martignani O.F.M. Cap., secretary of the Commission; Examining Magistrate Piero Antonio Bonnet, and Promoter of Justice Nicola Picardi of the Tribunal of Vatican City State.

The Holy Father was informed about the conclusions reached by the Commission of Cardinals, and about the progress of the criminal procedures currently underway. He thanked them for the information he had received and invited the Vatican magistrates to proceed expeditiously.

The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State; Msgr. Georg Gänswein, private secretary to the Holy Father; Domenico Giani, director of the Vatican Gendarmerie, and Gregory Burke, communications consultant of the Secretariat of State."