A van carrying eight men was driven into the grounds of the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat at about noon today amid indications that the Pope may be meeting the alleged victims of child abuse when he returns there after Mass.

An eyewitness said one of the passengers was Lawrence Grech, the spokesman of the victims. Mgr Anton Gouder was also in the vehicle.

The van was under police escort.

A spokesman for the Vatican yesterday did not rule out the possibility of the meeting, but said it would not be announced beforehand.

The victims, who say they were victims of abuse on St Joseph Home, Sta Venera, had called for a short, private meeting with the Pope after having met Archbishop Paul Cremona.

The Daily Telegraph said an encounter with the Maltese victims would be a way for the Vatican to dampen down some of the anger over the paedophile sex abuse scandals which have emerged around the world in the last few months.

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