Pope names commission of inquiry into Vatican bank

VATICAN CITY - The Associated Press

ope Francis waves as he leaves after leading the weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican June 26, 2013. REUTERS Photo

Pope Francis has named a commission of inquiry to look into the activities of the troubled Vatican bank amid a fresh money-laundering investigation and questions about what exactly goes on inside the secretive institution.

It was the second time in as many weeks that Francis has intervened to get to get to the bottom of the problems that have plagued the Institute for Religious Works: On June 15, he filled a key vacancy in the bank's governing structure, tapping a trusted friend to be essentially his eyes inside the bank. The new appointee will have access to documentation, board meetings and management.

On Wednesday, he named a commission to investigate the bank's legal structure and activities. It comes as Salerno prosecutors investigate a senior Vatican official for alleged money-laundering.