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| Vatican suspends 'bishop of bling' Tebartz-van Elst | Vatican suspends 'bishop of bling' Tebartz-van Elst |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Vatican has suspended a senior German Church leader dubbed the "bishop of bling" by the media over his alleged lavish spending. | The Vatican has suspended a senior German Church leader dubbed the "bishop of bling" by the media over his alleged lavish spending. |
| Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst is accused of spending more than 31m euros (£26m; $42m) on renovating his official residence. | Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst is accused of spending more than 31m euros (£26m; $42m) on renovating his official residence. |
| The Vatican said it deemed "appropriate... a period of leave from the diocese" for the bishop. | The Vatican said it deemed "appropriate... a period of leave from the diocese" for the bishop. |
| The suspension comes two days after he met the Pope to discuss the matter. | The suspension comes two days after he met the Pope to discuss the matter. |
| "A situation has been created in which the bishop can no longer exercise his episcopal duties", a Vatican statement said. | "A situation has been created in which the bishop can no longer exercise his episcopal duties", a Vatican statement said. |
| It said a Church commission would rule on the matter, but did not say where Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, 53, would go or what he would do while the inquiry was held. | It said a Church commission would rule on the matter, but did not say where Bishop Tebartz-van Elst, 53, would go or what he would do while the inquiry was held. |
| The head of Germany's main lay Catholic group, the Central Committee of German Catholics, Alois Glueck, welcomed the Vatican's decision. | The head of Germany's main lay Catholic group, the Central Committee of German Catholics, Alois Glueck, welcomed the Vatican's decision. |
| He said: "Pope Francis's decision offers the chance of a first step toward a new beginning in the Limburg diocese, because the situation has become an increasing burden for the faithful there, and in all of Germany, over recent weeks." | He said: "Pope Francis's decision offers the chance of a first step toward a new beginning in the Limburg diocese, because the situation has become an increasing burden for the faithful there, and in all of Germany, over recent weeks." |
| First-class flight | First-class flight |
| Bishop Tebartz-van Elst - and his spending habits - had become infamous in Germany, where many people pay Church tax to the state. The tax raised 5.2bn euros for Catholics and 4.6bn euros for Protestants in 2012. | Bishop Tebartz-van Elst - and his spending habits - had become infamous in Germany, where many people pay Church tax to the state. The tax raised 5.2bn euros for Catholics and 4.6bn euros for Protestants in 2012. |
| Calls were made for the bishop to resign after he was accused of lying under oath about his spending. | Calls were made for the bishop to resign after he was accused of lying under oath about his spending. |
| He was criticised for a first-class flight to India to visit the poor. | He was criticised for a first-class flight to India to visit the poor. |
| But his official residence is at the heart of the criticism, after renovations were originally costed at 5.5m euros. | But his official residence is at the heart of the criticism, after renovations were originally costed at 5.5m euros. |
| German media are reporting that the residence was fitted with a bath that cost 15,000 euros, a conference table for 25,000 euros and a private chapel that cost 2.9m euros. | German media are reporting that the residence was fitted with a bath that cost 15,000 euros, a conference table for 25,000 euros and a private chapel that cost 2.9m euros. |
| The story has attracted heavy coverage and has stoked controversy among Catholics. | |
| It was in Germany that Martin Luther launched the Reformation five centuries ago in response to what he said were excesses and abuses within the Church. | |
| The BBC's Alan Johnston, in Rome, says all this was bound to play badly with the new Pope, who has repeatedly expressed his disapproval of senior clerics whose lifestyles seem a little too lavish. | The BBC's Alan Johnston, in Rome, says all this was bound to play badly with the new Pope, who has repeatedly expressed his disapproval of senior clerics whose lifestyles seem a little too lavish. |
| Pope Francis has also signalled his intention to clean up the Vatican's finances, appointing a commission to advise him on reforms. | Pope Francis has also signalled his intention to clean up the Vatican's finances, appointing a commission to advise him on reforms. |
| There is no surprise in Rome that the Vatican has ordered the bishop's suspension from his duties while the spending row is investigated, our correspondent adds. | There is no surprise in Rome that the Vatican has ordered the bishop's suspension from his duties while the spending row is investigated, our correspondent adds. |
| Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is the daughter of a Protestant pastor, said that she had expressed "hope that there will be an answer for believers, for people's confidence in their Church". | Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is the daughter of a Protestant pastor, said that she had expressed "hope that there will be an answer for believers, for people's confidence in their Church". |
| In his absence, the bishop's diocese will be administered by Limburg's vicar general, Wolfgang Roesch. | In his absence, the bishop's diocese will be administered by Limburg's vicar general, Wolfgang Roesch. |