Pope Francis I conducts a general audience in the Paul VI hall for members of the media at the Vatican March 16, 2013.REUTERS/Paul Hanna Pope sets tone for humbler papacy Huge crowd for pope's first Sunday address Vatican denies Pope Francis stayed silent during dictatorship Pope Francis' inaugural Mass Pope Francis holds inaugural mass One of many firsts for Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has decided that all top administrators in the Vatican bureaucracy will keep their posts while he reflects on any necessary changes, the Vatican said on Saturday.

There had been speculation that the new pope could make swift changes to the Curia, the Vatican bureaucracy that has been at the centre of allegations of corruption, infighting and intrigue.

“The Holy Father, wants in fact, to give himself a certain amount of time for reflection, prayer and dialogue before any (new) appointments or definitive confirmations,” a statement said.

It added that top job holders would “provisionally stay in their respective posts until it is decided otherwise”.