The Vatican said Friday that it has arrested someone for illegally holding secret documents as it tries to get to the bottom of an embarrassing leaking scandal.

Spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi declined to immediately identify the person, other than to say he was a layman. He has been arrested and Vatican judicial authorities are examining his case.

Vatican documents leaked to the press in recent months have pointed to power struggles and accusations of corruption touching senior Vatican cardinals. In one case, a cleric who complained was reportedly sent to Washington as papal envoy to get him out of the Vatican.

In another case, Vatican officials have accused the president of the Vatican bank of leaking confidential documents. He was ousted by the board Thursday.