ROME — The leaders of the Sistine Chapel Choir have landed in the cross hairs of an investigation by Vatican prosecutors into possible money laundering, fraud and embezzlement.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis had authorized an “investigation into some economic-administrative aspects” of the choral ensemble, the world’s oldest. The targets of the investigation, the Rev. Massimo Palombella, choirmaster, and Michelangelo Nardella, administrative director, denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers.

The investigation became public on Wednesday after the Vatican Insider, an online website affiliated with the Turin daily La Stampa, wrote that the two men were suspected of siphoning money from concert tours into an Italian bank account. The money was allegedly used for personal expenses, the website wrote.

The investigation, which began “several months ago,” was still underway, the Vatican said in a statement.