Madrid - Four members of the Catholic Church were arrested in Spain on Monday for alleged paedophilia, Spanish authorities said.
Judicial sources quoted by Spanish media said the four were priests. Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz declined to give details during a press conference.
The case, which is under gag order, was prompted by a 24-year-old man who came forward with allegations that he was abused when he served as an altar boy.
The alleged victim wrote a letter to Pope Francis detailing his account, and subsequently filed a criminal case.
The Pope spoke with the man twice on the phone, and subsequently requested that the Archbishop of Granada, where the abuse allegedly took place, remove the perpetrators from the clergy.
"The highest power of the church, the Pope, has been the most belligerent in ensuring that the case came to light," Fernandez said.
A judge, who began investigating the case at the beginning of November, is looking into allegations against at least 12 priests and laity.