Life-size Pope cutout stolen from church returned intact

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Authorities say a life-size cutout of Pope Francis that was stolen from a New Jersey church during a bingo fundraiser has been returned intact.

New Jersey police say the theft occurred sometime Thursday night at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Gloucester County. A post made on the department’s Facebook page the following night said the cutout had been returned, but further details have not been disclosed.

A message seeking comment from church officials was not immediately returned Sunday.

It’s not clear who may have taken the cutout or what prompted the theft. One witness had reported seeing the cutout in a car occupied by three women, including an elderly person who was on oxygen.