(ANSA) - Vatican City, July 1 - The Vatican bank on Tuesday declined to comment on international media reports that its chairman is about to step down ahead of the bank's annual report, which is expected to be released sometime this month.
The reports disagreed on whether Ernst von Freyberg leaves willingly or whether he is being pushed out over differences within the Vatican about the pace of reform at the bank, also known as the Institute for Religious Works (IOR).
"We are working on our annual report, which will clarify what has been done in the past year", an IOR spokesman said.
Von Freyberg's future "is part of a larger discussion on governance reform and the redefinition of functions" within the bank, he added. Pope Francis has created a commission to oversee the troubled financial institution in an effort to make it more ethical and transparent.
Vatican has 'no comment' on Von Freyberg resignation report
IOR chair rumored to step down before annual report is released