German 'Bling Bishop' Suspended by Vatican

The Vatican suspended indefinitely Germany's "bling bishop" on Wednesday, for his luxury lifestyle, following calls in Germany for his dismissal.

"The Holy See deems it appropriate to authorize a period of leave from the diocese for Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst," the Vatican said in a statement.

"The Holy Father has been continuously and objectively informed of the situation," it said.

"A situation has been created in which the bishop can no longer exercise his episcopal duties."

The Central Committee of German Catholics, which brings together all the Catholic lay associations in the country, said it was satisfied with the decision to suspend the bishop.

"Pope Francis' decision offers a chance at turning a new leaf in the diocese of Limburg, where the situation has become unpleasant in recent weeks both for believers there and for the Church in Germany as a whole," its president Alois Glueck said.