Pope Francis meets with ‘spendthrift’ German bishop
(ANSA) – Vatican City, October 21 – Pope Francis met Monday with a scandal-hit German bishop accused of over-spending on renovations to his home.
Details of their conversation were not immediately released, but Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, bishop of Limburg, is accused of spending as much as 15,000 euros for bathroom renovations and 31 million euros on the overall project of restoring the complex of the bishop’s residence.
Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the president of the German Bishops Conference, had earlier written a letter to the pope on the issue, which has triggered accusations that the bishop is too free-spending.
His alleged lifestyle stands in dramatic contrast with the pope’s emphasis on simple and frugal living.
A commission has reportedly been established to investigate the case, including who approved what renovations and in what amount.
The bishop has also been accused of lying in the matter.