Places of hope in Styria: Church looks optimistically into 2025

Places of hope in Styria: Church looks optimistically into 2025

In Styria, 2025 will be a special year for the Catholic Church. Diocesan Bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl announced that the church is celebrating the holy year and that it will be a crucial year for the religious community. As part of the diocesan conference, numerous topics will be addressed in order to sharpen our view of the future of the Church and to show ways in which the message of the Gospel can be conveyed in modern society. “We have defined 22 places of hope in Styria where people can find new perspectives for their future through sermons and pilgrimages,” Krautwaschl explained meinkreis.at reported.

The bishop, who will celebrate his tenth anniversary next year, reflected on the challenges the church has had to overcome in recent years. “The pandemic has destroyed a lot, but we have to learn to deal with these wounds,” said Krautwaschl. With the holy year there will be a global focus on hope, with the church initiating a prayer chain not only in Styria but worldwide. On December 29th, candles of hope will be presented in Graz Cathedral, which are intended as rays of hope of faith orf.at holds on.

Political challenges and the call for unity

In his Christmas speeches, Krautwaschl emphasized the need for cohesion in society, especially in the midst of political uncertainty. He pointed out that the church should always have people in mind in its ministry, regardless of political affiliation or ideological differences. “In difficult times, we must remind each other what is ultimately at stake: human dignity,” said the bishop, calling for increased cooperation between political parties. This concern will be taken up again in the diocesan conference, as the church responds to social developments with a differentiated view in order to restore lost connections and create space for dialogue.