"At some point someone told him that wasn't a very papal gesture, " Vian said.

NPR: Pope Legacy: Teacher Who Returned To Church Roots

"Many people thought they were doing the renovations for new sisters, but it was for the pope, " Vian said.

NPR: Vatican Sends Message: Pope's Retirement For Real

The last such order of nuns left the residence in October, and renovation work began immediately afterward, Vian told The Associated Press.

NPR: Vatican Sends Message: Pope's Retirement For Real

The investigation would cover every branch of the Vatican administration, the AFP news agency cites Giovanni Maria Vian, director of L'Osservatore Romano, as saying.

BBC: Vatican launches criminal probe into unauthorised leaks

The Crown Prosecution Service has now dropped the case against the remaining three people - Mr Morgan's former business partner Jonathan Rees and brothers Garry and Glenn Vian.

BBC: Private detective axe murder case collapses 24 years on

"No one is born a pope, " Vian said.

NPR: Pope Legacy: Teacher Who Returned To Church Roots

Pope John Paul II had wanted a residence inside the Vatican walls to host contemplative religious orders, and over the years several different orders have come for spells of a few years, said Giovanni Maria Vian, editor of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

NPR: Vatican Sends Message: Pope's Retirement For Real