Pope Francis has strengthened laws on child abuse that apply to clerics and lay people working in the Vatican. The papal decree broadens the definition on crimes against minors to include sexual abuse of children, BBC News reported.

Earlier this year, Pope Francis said that dealing with sex abuse was vital to the Church's credibility.

The decree also increases the Vatican's international co-operation in combating crimes, and raises penalties for those who leak official papers.

The BBC's David Willey in Rome says Pope Francis's order continues a process started by his predecessor Benedict XVI, aimed at bringing the Vatican into line with modern international norms.

The Vatican's legal system closely follows that of Italy, but given the special nature of the city state set up in 1929, there has until now been more emphasis on legal exemptions rather than on law enforcement, our correspondents adds.

The updated legislation covers more than 5,000 clergy and lay people who live and work in the Vatican - and is different from the canon law which covers the universal Catholic Church.