Theft at archbishop's home nets Catholic treasures

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Valuable rings and crosses were stolen early this week from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis's residence in St. Paul, a church official reported.A burglar or burglars took rings laden with gems and crosses worn by bishops throughout the archdiocese's 150-plus years. "These things are historically and reverentially irreplaceable," said Dennis McGrath, spokesman for the archdiocese. "They're beyond value."Also believed to be missing are rosaries and a small safe. "It's like a historical treasure trove, if you will," McGrath said.The burglary came on a weekend that was set to be a glorious one for new Archbishop John Nienstedt, who took office in May and was in Rome for a welcoming ceremony featuring Pope Benedict.According to St. Paul police, the break-in occurred at the residence early Saturday morning. The thief or thieves climbed onto a first-floor roof and broke into a second-story window, police spokesman Peter Panos said.About a week earlier, Nienstedt had set out for Rome with a group of about 100 church officials and worshipers, many of them acquaintances from his years as the bishop of the New Ulm Diocese, McGrath said.On Sunday, they witnessed a ceremony in which Nienstedt received a pallium -- a garment presented to all archbishops -- from the pope. "It is an important event," McGrath said.Along with Nienstedt's "former faithful from New Ulm," the archbishop then was to embark for Ulm, Germany, on a trip that had been delayed by his selection to his new post, McGrath said.McGrath said there was no evidence that the burglary had political overtures against Nienstedt, whose orthodox style has been controversial with some Catholics in the archdiocese. The intruders were clearly bent on burglary, he said, adding it appeared that there were at least two people and that they were familiar with the residence."These guys were pros," he said. "The glass they broke through is, like, three or four inches thick. They couldn't get through without a sledgehammer. They executed a well-thought-out plan. They knew exactly where to go in (Nienstedt's) bedroom."Panos said police believed more than one person might be involved, adding that the weight of the safe alone suggested teamwork was required.McGrath said he didn't know if the stolen items were insured. He also said he couldn't imagine someone wearing them. The crosses, for example, "are on a gold chain, very ornate," and drape over the chest."I don't think 50 Cent would wear it," he said, referring to the rap star.McGrath said he could not think of another such incident in the archdiocese's history. "It takes a lot of gall to rob an archbishop" across the street from the Cathedral of St. Paul.(Terry Collins of the Minneapolis Star Tribune contributed to this report.)(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)