"His decision to retire has surprised me, but he is very brave, although he is fragile and elderly," said the nun from the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, who requested anonymity because of her cloistered life.

The monastery, called Mater Ecclesiae, is 4,300 square feet and lies just west of St. Peter's Basilica.

It contains a chapel, a choir room, a library, a semi-basement, a terrace and a visiting room that was added in 1993.

According to the Spanish nun, who currently resides in a convent in Madrid, the building had not been refurbished in 18 years and needed minor repairs.

"We had humidity in the basement, the windows needed changing, and the terrace on top needed fixing and painting because of past snow," she explained.

"But the building is very small, so they had to wait for us to leave to begin working on it."

The monastery was established in 1994 by Blessed John Paul II as a place dedicated solely to prayer for the Pope, his ministry and the cardinals.

Source: CNA