VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican has shelved plans to bring in an external auditor for its consolidated financial statements but has kept PricewaterhouseCoopers on for consulting services.

The Vatican announced in December that it had hired PwC as its external auditor, part of financial czar Cardinal George Pell's march to bring the Holy See's finances in line with international standards.

But the Vatican suspended the contract in April after questions arose about the contract's scope and who had signed it: Pell and the head of the Council for the Economy's audit committee.

The Vatican said Friday only its own auditor general, Libero Milone, is legally responsible for auditing its consolidated financial statements, as with any sovereign state.

The contract has been revised, with PwC assisting Milone and other Vatican offices with consulting services.