Vatican appoints PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit accounts

The Vatican has ordered the first ever external audit of its accounts as part of Pope Francis' efforts to reform the Roman Catholic Church.

The auditor, accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, will start work immediately, a papal spokesman said.

PwC will review the Vatican's consolidated financial statements, spokesman Federico Lombardi said, which includes assets, income and expenses.

Pope Francis has promised to make the Vatican's finances more transparent after a series of scandals.
Last year he created a new ministry to oversee papal finances, headed by Cardinal George Pell.