Vatican City, 26 March 2014 (VIS) – The Holy See Press Office today issued the following communique:

 

“With reference to the administration of the diocese of Limburg in Germany, the Congregation for Bishops has carefully studied the report of the Commission instituted by the bishop and by the Cathedral Chapter to undertake further investigations in relation to the responsibility for the construction of the 'St. Nikolaus' diocesan centre.

 

Awaiting the diocese of Limburg to ascertain a situation that impedes the fruitful exercise of his ministry on the part of Msgr. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, the Holy See has accepted the resignation presented by the prelate on 20 October 2013 and has appointed Msgr. Manfred Grothe as apostolic administrator “sede vacante”.

 

The former Bishop Tebartz-van Elst will in due course be assigned a different role.

 

The Holy Father entreatas the clergy and faithful of Limburg to accept the decisions of the Holy See with docility and willingness to rediscover a climate of charity and reconciliation”.