Cardinal George Pell has said he will serve his “full five-year term” as the Vatican’s financial reformer after the suspension of a major external audit provoked speculation that reform efforts may be faltering. Cardinal Pell, whose term as prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy began in 2014, said the Pope “fully supported” the work of his office and had visited staff for an hour last Thursday, engaging in a “friendly and lively discussion”. A statement issued by the cardinal’s office said the Pope supported the “ongoing need for transparency” and the importance of “outside or external professional inclusion and assistance”. The statement said: “Cardinal Pell will also be continuing with his current role for the full five-year term. Finally, it is also interesting to note so-called ‘concerns’ about the PwC audit and contract were only raised when auditors began asking for certain financial information and we’re finding it difficult to get answers.” Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi denied that the suspension of the audit – carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) – reflected internal opposition to it or to financial transparency in general. “Issues have emerged regarding the meaning and scope of certain clauses of the contract [with PwC] and their methods of implementation. The commitment to adequate economic and financial auditing remains a priority for the Holy See and for Vatican City State,” he said. A financial audit of every Vatican office “is so complex that it should not be a surprise that there are things needing clarification”, Fr Lombardi added.