Pope Suspends 'Luxury' Bishop For Spending N6.8billion Of Church Funds On His Residence.

Pope Francis has suspended indefinitely a German Roman Catholic prelate Franz- Peter Tebartz-van Elst known as the "luxury bishop" from his diocese for spending $43m (N6.8billion) of Church funds on his residence. Tebartz-van Elst was dubbed "the luxury bishop" after an audit of his spending revealed that his residence cost at least six times more than planned. German media, citing official documents, said the residence had been fitted with: a free-standing bath that cost 15,000 euros (N3m), a conference table that cost 25,000 euros (N5m), and a private chapel for 2.9 million euros (N594m). In a highly unusual move, Bishop Franz- Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg was ordered to leave his diocese while an investigation and audit into cost over- runs is held. He has apologised for any "carelessness or misjudgment on my part", but denies wrongdoing. The issue has proven a major embarrassment for Pope Francis, who has called for a more austere Church that sides with the poor. He has told bishops not to live like princes, and has also promised to clean up the murky finances of the Vatican bank.