The auxiliary bishop of Aachen, Germany, has had his resignation accepted by the Vatican. He was convicted of misappropriating the money of an elderly woman with dementia.

Newsroom (12/11/2022 15:00, Gaudium Press) The Vatican has officially announced the resignation of the Auxiliary Bishop of Aachen, Germany, Bishop Johannes Bündgens.

In December 2019, Bishop Bündgens was brought before German courts accused of embezzling money from an elderly woman with dementia.

The lady, who is now deceased, knowing she could not handle her finances on her own had decided to entrust Bishop Bündgens with her financial management.

A few months later, a trusted guardian of the woman noticed that several bank transfers had been made to the Bishop’s personal account. The amount transferred was about 120,000 Euros. It was then that the guardian took legal action.

The auxiliary bishop of Aachen claimed that in exchange for the money, he let the old woman live in a residence bought by him worth about 600,000 euros (about $ 3.1 million).

Bishop Johannes Bündgens, 66, was appointed auxiliary bishop of Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI. Since the start of the controversy, the bishop has ceased all public and pastoral activity.

Bishop Bündgens was sentenced in July 2021 to nine months in prison on probation and a fine of 5,000 euros. Bishop Bündgens submitted his resignation last October after the ruling became final.  He has also returned the money to the woman’s family.

The Bishop of Aachen, Monsignor Helmut Dieser, commented on the resignation and its acceptance by the Vatican stating “It was good for everyone that the pope made a quick decision” and regretted the events of the past years. (FM)

Compiled by Camille Mittermeier