Peter Hullermann News Today

A precious pectoral cross, gifted by the late Pope Benedict XVI to a parish in his hometown of Bavaria, has been stolen from the church where it was prominently displayed. The incident took place ...

A pectoral cross bequeathed by the late Pope Benedict XVI to a parish in his native Bavaria has been stolen from the church where it was on display.

Benedict’s heirs sued in Munich abuse claim

Any heir takes over any legal claims against the deceased, according to estate laws. "I could get the shakes just thinking about how much I would have to pay out," one cousin told Bavarian Radio.

(RNS) — Any heir takes over any legal claims against the deceased, according to estate laws. 'I could get the shakes just thinking about how much I would have to pay out,' one cousin told Bavarian Radio.

One cousin has already refused to accept the inheritance; four others have not yet responded. If they are smart, they will turn it down as well.

Eric Geller made the comment after ex-Pope's Death in since-deleted New Year’s Eve tweet.

Known more for his rigorous theological teachings than his charisma, Benedict XVI had been expected to make his papacy largely about reasserting traditional conservative Roman Catholic doctrine, but ended up spending much of it dealing with fallout from the church's sexual abuse scandal.

The German national became pontiff in 2005.

If only the rest of the world had learned from the Catholic Church’s sex-abuse crisis, as the Catholic Church did.