Santiago, Chile, Aug 29, 2006 / 22:00 pm
One of the thieves who stole a ring that was donated by Pope John Paul II to a museum in the Chilean city Coquimbo has turned himself in to a priest admitting that he melted the ring down and sold it for $112.
Last Thursday, two burglars broke into the Museum of the Cross of the Third Millennium and made off with the papal ring and two gold pectoral crosses that were donated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Chile, Archbishop Aldo Cavalli.
Local media confirmed that one of the burglars went to Father Fernando Candia and told him that the “fisherman’s ring” was melted down and sold for $112. Father Candia said the man returned the other two objects intact.
After the robbery, museum officials removed from display a gold ring and a silver pectoral cross that were donated in 2002 by now Pope Benedict XVI.
Officials have also taken steps to install more security cameras and increase the number of security guards on duty at the museum.