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Pope Francis replaces German 'bishop of bling' over €31m residence Pope Francis replaces German 'bishop of bling' over €31m residence
(35 minutes later)
Pope Francis has permanently removed a German bishop dubbed the 'bishop of bling' from his Limburg diocese after his €31m (£26m) residence complex caused an uproar among the faithful. Pope Francis has permanently removed a German bishop who has been called the 'bishop of bling' from his diocese amid criticism of his €31m (£26m) residential complex.
Francis had temporarily expelled Monsignor Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst from Limburg in October pending a church inquiry.Francis had temporarily expelled Monsignor Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst from Limburg in October pending a church inquiry.
At the centre of the controversy was the huge price tag for the construction of a new bishop's residence complex and related renovations. Tebartz-van Elst defended the expenditures, saying the bill was actually for 10 projects and there were additional costs because the buildings were under historical protection. At the centre of the controversy was the huge price tag for the construction of a new bishop's residence complex and related renovations.
But in a country where Martin Luther launched the Reformation five centuries ago in response to what he said were excesses and abuses within the church, the outcry was enormous. The perceived lack of financial transparency also struck a chord since a church tax in Germany brings in billions of euros a year to the German church. Tebartz-van Elst defended the expenditures, saying the bill was actually for 10 projects, and there were additional costs because the buildings were under historical protection.
The Vatican said that the inquiry into the renovation found that Tebartz-van Elst could no longer exercise his ministry and that Francis had accepted his resignation, which was originally offered on 20 October. But in the country where Martin Luther launched the Reformation five centuries ago, the outcry was enormous. The perceived lack of financial transparency also struck a chord, since a church tax in Germany brings in billions of euros a year to the German church.
A replacement, Monsignor Manfred Grothe, currently an auxiliary bishop in Paderborn, will take over, the Vatican said, citing a statement from the diocese. The Vatican said that the inquiry into the renovation had found that Tebartz-van Elst could no longer exercise his ministry, and that Francis had accepted his resignation, which was originally offered on 20 October.
A replacement, Monsignor Manfred Grothe, currently an auxiliary bishop in Paderborn, would take over, the Vatican said, citing a statement from the diocese.
It said Tebartz-van Elst would get a new job "at the opportune time".It said Tebartz-van Elst would get a new job "at the opportune time".
It added that the pope hoped the faithful of Limburg would accept the decision with "docility and willingness to rediscover a climate of charity and reconciliation."It added that the pope hoped the faithful of Limburg would accept the decision with "docility and willingness to rediscover a climate of charity and reconciliation."
While the then-head of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, had been particularly blunt in his criticism of the bishop, Tebartz-van Elst had his defenders in Rome, which could explain the Vatican's decision to give him a second chance with a new job. While the former head of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, was particularly blunt in his criticism of the bishop, Tebartz-van Elst had his defenders in Rome. This could explain the Vatican's decision to give him a second chance with a new job.
Francis has called on his priests and bishops to be models of sobriety in a church that "is poor and is for the poor". Francis has called on his priests and bishops to be models of sobriety in a church that "is poor, and is for the poor".