Cardinal Schönborn speaks plain text: the church needs more openness!

Cardinal Schönborn speaks plain text: the church needs more openness!

Wien, Österreich - Cardinal Christoph Schönborn clearly addressed the challenges and the decline in the number of members of the Catholic Church in Vienna on December 17, 2024. The press conference received special attention because it is one of the last before his probably upcoming emeritus is 80th birthday. Schönborn, who painfully denounces the decline of the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vienna by around 20 percent during his tenure, sees this trend as part of a greater social phenomenon. "The binding to institutions decreases and many people have developed a distance to the church," he explains and adds that this process should not be searched for in the church.

In the context of the search for meaning of many people, Schönborn emphasizes that Christianity offers valuable resources. In doing so, he encourages the Church to proactive newcomers and to promote their interest. "Catholicism is not outdated," emphasizes the cardinal and also defends the presence of Christian symbols in public spaces, such as the crosses in Vienna. These are a sign of reconciliation and not the exclusion, says Schönborn. The central message is clear: the church must become more open and appealing to meet the needs and questions of today's society. According to Kathpress, this openness is essential to address and achieve people who are looking for meaning.

cohesion and humanity

Schönborn also addressed loneliness in modern society: "It is a deficit in humanity," he criticized. A call to humanity becomes loud, because it is important to be interested in each other. "We have to look together and stick together," said the cardinal and emphasized that this cohesion is also essential in politics and in the entire society. This message is in line with his view that the church can make an important social contribution by supporting both people's search for meaning and remains open to other religions, as he emphasized in allusion to the Muslim community.

This comprehensive analysis by Cardinal Schönborn is more than just words; It is an appeal to all believers and institutions to actively act in society and to strengthen the bond with people while at the same time spans the bow to Christian values ​​and the positive aspects of faith. This is how the church is required to redefine its role in a changing world.

like kathpress is the aspect of the believable and the personal radiation of keys as Refugee helper Maria Loley and the Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast also central to the renewal of the church. In addition, such as MeinDZIRK , the actual retreat is a chance, a chance Self -reflection for the church.