I wonder if Pope Francis ever got in touch with the family of the priest to let them know he had taken the crucifix and not someone else? That would have been the way to proceed instead of retelling the event years later and admitting to being a thief. I'm sure the family would be delighted to know he had the thing and used it in such a way that he thinks would honor the dead priest.
I'll make sure to let my family know to take my two gold tooth crowns before I'm "taken care of" and not leave them to grave robbers. ;o)