VATICAN CITY, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Pope Francis will keep a German bishop accused of being a money squanderer but send him on a several-months sabbatical, the German newspaper Bild reported.
Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, bishop of Limburg, has been accused of spending $42.7 million to renovate the bishop's residence, raising the hackles of many within his diocese.
Tebartz-van Elst met earlier this week with Pope Frances. While details of the meeting weren't disclosed, Bild reported online Wednesday Tebartz-van Elst would keep his job but not be allowed to return to work immediately.
Tebartz-van Elst's sabbatical was effective immediately.
Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, the German Bishops' Conference president, had written to the pope about the matter. A commission had been established to investigate the case, including the approval process for the renovation project, ANSA reported.
The German bishop has also been accused of lying in the matter, ANSA reported.
Bild said the pope's decision doesn't preclude further action if warranted.
