Bishop travels to Rome to explain €31m residence

A German bishop under fire for heavy spending is in Rome for talks at the Vatican, placing his future in the hands of a Pope who has espoused a simple lifestyle.

Allegations of lavish spending by Rev Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, bishop of Limburg, have stirred controversy among Roman Catholics.

Martin Wind, a spokes- man for the diocese of Limburg, told the German news agency DPA Tebartz- van Elst was meeting with church officials in Rome but gave no further details. German media said he made the trip aboard a budget airline.