VATICAN CITY
The Tablet (UK)
26 March 2014 12:27 by Abigail Frymann
Pope Francis has permanently removed the high-spending Bishop of Limburg following an investigation by the German bishops’ conference.
Rome said on Wednesday that the inquiry found that Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst could no longer exercise his ministry and Francis had accepted his resignation, which he had offered in October.
Bishop Tebartz-van Elst was dubbed the “bishop of bling” in the media after details of the €31m refurbishment of his residence were reported, sparking outrage from the faithful.
Francis ordered him to take time out from his diocese in October pending the inquiry. In November he admitted to two counts of perjury. He had hoped to return to Limburg.
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