Pope Francis lets notorious BISHOP OF BLING off hook for damages to Church

A German news media outlet is reporting that Pope Francis has let Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst off the hook for some $28 million in damages to his own diocese. Tebartz-van Elst is more commonly known as "The Bishop of Bling" for his extravagant lifestyle paid for with Church funds. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The German news outlet, Deutsche Welle, reports that Pope Francis may have allowed the Bishop of Bling off the hook for the damages he did to the Church by living extravagantly on the Church's money. If true, then the notorious bishop will not have to repay some $28 million to his diocese. Pope Francis reportedly made the decision in July. 
The decision, which will prove very controversial, if true, will be formerly announced in December, sources within the Vatican say. 

Diocese of Limberg officials have asked the Church to make him responsible for damages. 

German officials have already been informed of the Holy Father's decision, but denied knowledge when asked about it on Twitter. It is unclear if the reports are true to begin with, and who actually knows at this time. 

According to a source at the Vatican, the report is true and it was motivated out of "mercy" as opposed to justice, Pope Francis is said to have acknowledged this fact.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst resigned from his post as the Bishop of the Diocese of Limberg in 2013 after allegations of this very wealthy lifestyle became global news. The bishop was already a sensational and controversial public figure locally. Bishop Tebartz-van Elst allegedly ate expensive food, drove expensive cars, and built a mansion for himself using money from the Diocese. In 2012, he lied to a German court when asked about what class seat he purchased on a flight to India. He was fines 20,000 euros for that infraction. 

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In 2013, he was recalled to the Vatican to explain himself to Pope Francis. That meeting was private, but the Bishop offered his resignation, which was accepted. He was then sent to pray, presumably at a monastery within the Vatican or in private quarters. 

However, Pope Francis has since brought the Bishop out of confinement and assigned him duties. Presently, he is working at the Vatican as a member of a papal evangelization council. 

He still receives pay in excess of 10,000 euros per month.

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