ORF mourns Mathilde Schwabeneder: An icon of reporting has died!

ORF mourns Mathilde Schwabeneder: An icon of reporting has died!

Sad news shakes the ORF family: The esteemed journalist Mathilde Schwabeneder died on the night of Friday, March 14, 2025, at the age of 69 after a long illness. Known as a long-time correspondent in Rome who covered important events in the Vatican, Italy and Malta, she left behind an impressive journalistic career. ORF General Director Roland Weißmann expressed his dismay and called Schwabeneder a “particularly integrity and outstanding ORF journalist legend” who always strived for respectful and sensitive journalism that placed people at the center, as [exxpress.at] reported.

Born in Wels and originally trained as a speech therapist, Schwabeneder moved to Rome in 1983, where she studied Romance languages ​​at the University “La Sapienza” and received her doctorate. She began her journalistic career at ORF in 1995, initially as an Ö1 editor in the area of ​​information and religion, before switching to television in 1999. From 2007 to 2020 she headed the ORF office in Rome and was active as a commentator on major events such as the funerals of Pope John Paul II and the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI. She also courageously reported from crisis areas, including South Sudan. Schwabeneder conducted numerous important interviews, including with the Dalai Lama and Hollywood star Richard Gere, as [tv.orf.at] highlights.

Commemoration and program changes

In memory of Mathilde Schwabeneder, ORF 2 will broadcast her documentary “In the Service of the Pope” on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. The “Orientation” program will also broadcast an obituary for the esteemed journalist at 12:30 p.m. Her legacy as a pioneer of journalism and a voice on the important issues of our time is valued and honored by many.