Pope Benedict XVI (archive photo) Photo: mkx fpt
From BZ/dpa
Unknown people have the pectoral cross of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. stolen.
The former pontiff had bequeathed the pectoral cross to his home parish in Traunstein, as the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office announced on Tuesday. There, the “papal pectoral” was stolen from the town church of St. Oswald on Monday.
The perpetrators broke open an exhibition case set into the wall and stole the pectoral cross. In addition, the strangers broke into the cash register of the magazine sales stand and stole the cash, it was said. The value is not quantifiable for the Catholic Church.
“We cannot rule out that it was a targeted act. The theft was noticed on Monday, and the LKA later took over the investigation,” said an LKA spokesman. On Tuesday, forces from the authority to secure evidence were on site. The crime happened between 11:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.