GERMANY/VATICAN CITY
Deutsche Welle
Germany’s “bling bishop” might get off without paying damages to his diocese if a report in the mass-circulation “Bild” is to be believed. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst had lived large in a 31.3 million-euro residence.
On Thursday, the mass-circulation newspaper “Bild” reported that the disgraced bishop would not have to pay damages for going about 25 million euros ($28 million) over budget. Quoting a Vatican insider, the Thursday edition of the newspaper, Germany’s biggest by circulation, reported that Pope Francis had made the decision back in July.
The professed papal confidant reportedly told the newspaper that Francis made the decision “out of sympathy and not out of a sense of justice.”
According to the newspaper, German officials of the Catholic Church have already been informed. Limburg Diocese administrator Manfred Grothe is expected to formally announce the decision in December, “Bild” reported.
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