Pope Francis made a strong statement Wednesday with the permanent removal of a German bishop under fire for building a new $43 million residence.

The Pope expelled Monsignor Franz-Peter Tebartz van Elst, better known as the “Bling Bishop”, from the Limburg diocese on a temporary basis last October pending a church inquiry.  Now, the Pope has expelled him entirely.

The Vatican said that officially, the Pope accepted the resignation of Tebartz van Elst, however sources inside the Vatican said that was only a gracious move on the part of the Pontiff.

Monsignor Manfred Grothe, an auxiliary bishop in Paderborn, Germany, will be taking over the Limberg diocese full time.

The Pope upon assuming his position called on all priests within the Catholic Church to be models of integrity in a church that “is poor and for the poor.”  The Vatican and the head of the German Bishops’ Conference both called for healing, reconciliation and the power of prayer.

German Bishops’ Conference head Cardinal Reinhard Marx said it is time for leadership to show they are worthy of new trust.