The lavish homes of American archbishops

By Daniel Burke,

“How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor!“— Pope Francis

Records reveal that 10 of the country’s top church leaders defy the Pope’s example and live in residences worth more than $1 million.

Pope Francis lives here, in a small suite in the Vatican guesthouse.

Clearly, “lifestyles of the rich and religious” doesn’t cut it for Pope Francis.

The pontiff has said it “breaks my heart” to see priests and nuns driving the latest-model cars.

He’s blasted “airport bishops” who spend more time jet-setting than tending to their flocks.

And he’s warned against church leaders who bear the “psychology of princes.”

The Vatican fired one such “prince” last year: German Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst — aka “The Bishop of Bling” — who spent $43 million to remodel his opulent pad.

(Bronze window frames? $2.4 million. Getting on the wrong side of the Pope? Far more pricey.)

“God save us from a worldly Church with superficial spiritual and pastoral trappings!” Francis said in his book-length blueprint for the church.

Say what you will, but this Pope puts his preaching into practice.

The message seems clear, no?

But are American archbishops following Francis’ lead?

A CNN investigation found that at least 10 of the 34 active archbishops in the United States live in buildings worth more than $1 million, according to church and government records.*

That’s not counting hundreds of retired and active Catholic bishops in smaller cities, some of whom live equally large.

Among archbishops, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York leads the pack with this 15,000-square-foot mansion on Madison Avenue, in one of the priciest corridors of Manhattan.

Representatives for Cardinals Dolan and George point out that their mansions were built more than 100 years ago and are used as offices and for hosting guests and fundraisers as well as residences. They also say the mansions are historical landmarks and can’t easily be sold or converted to other uses.

some Catholics say, and Pope Francis has urged archbishops to refocus their resources on caring for the poor and marginalized.

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