A German bishop nicknamed the "bishop of bling" was suspended by the Vatican after reports of millions of dollars worth of renovations to his home, USA TODAY reported.
The Vatican announced on Wednesday they would be suspending Bishop of Limburg Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, following a series of talks by Pope Francis declaring a reform of the church and investigation into the Vatican's spending.
German news outlets reported that the bishop's home, which he reportedly spent $42 million on renovating, included a conference table that cost $34,000 and a private chapel that cost $4 million. It also includes offices, private apartments, living quarters for nuns, and a museum.
However, Tebartz-van Elst defended his purchases and claimed the historical protection of the building he lives in is the reason why it was so costly.
Alois Glueck, the head of the Central Committee of German Catholics, applauded the pope's decision as "the necessary space to clear up completely and firmly the events in Limburg."
"Pope Francis' decision offers the chance of a first step toward a new beginning in the Limburg Diocese, because the situation had become an increasing burden for the faithful there and in all of Germany over recent weeks," Glueck added.
An investigation by the German bishop's conference will be underway soon. Franz-Josef Bode, bishop of Osnabrueck, said he is uncertain on whether the "bishop of bling" will return to his duties.
"I continue to think that the bishop returning to the Limburg Diocese and a new beginning there with Tebartz-van Elst are very difficult," Bode said. "There is a fundamental crisis of confidence in Limburg. The situation there is a mess."
In Germany, taxpayers that are members of the church are forced to pay 8 to 10 percent of their income to support the church's operations, though they are not required to say what the money is directly going toward.
Matthe Schmalz, theologian and professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, criticized the way the money was handled.
"Most bishops don't have to take a vow of poverty, but the point of the priesthood in some ways is to serve, not to be served, to give, not to be given to," Schmalz said.
