The race for Schönborn's successor: Who will be the new Archbishop of Vienna?
The race for Schönborn's successor: Who will be the new Archbishop of Vienna?
Wien, Österreich - On June 14, 2025, the search for a successor for Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who announced his resignation as Archbishop of Vienna on January 22, 2025, remains a challenge for the Catholic Church in Austria. The resignation was accepted after Schönborn had already offered the resignation in 2020, on the occasion of his 75th birthday, which was not accepted at the time. Pope Francis paid tribute to Schönborn's service for the 80th birthday.
Josef Grünwidl, previously bishop vicar for the Vicariate South, was used as an apostolic administrator. His appointment is considered a signal for an early decision. Nevertheless, the search for a successor is difficult because several candidates have already canceled. Church insiders suspect that the succession for the Vatican Dicaster for Bishops, which was previously under Robert Francis Prevost, may have acted as a delay factor in Vienna.
candidates and uncertainties in the successor search
The uncertainties related to the successor are particularly noteworthy, since a list of three for the appointment of a successor is to be forwarded to Pope Francis. The Nuntius Pedro López Quintana has already created this list, but all previous suggestions have been rejected.
Schönborn's legacy and its role
During his 30-year service as an archbishop,Schönborn led the Catholic Church in Austria through numerous crises, especially the abuse scandals, and was actively in the “independent victim protection commission” to the responsibility of the church. Despite his loss of office, he will continue to work as an ordinarius for the Catholics of the Catholic Eastern Churches in Austria.
A big farewell party in the St. St. Stephen Cathedral in Vienna is also planned for Schönborn on January 18, 2025. In the meantime, structural reforms in the Archdiocese of Vienna remain exposed to other reform pillars. Grünwidl, who initially acts temporarily as an administrator, expects a sedism vacancy of "a few months".
his successor will be familiar with the challenges that Schönborn had to cope with during his tenure consisting of crises and reforms. Optimism prevails because the new Pope is familiar with the situation in the Archdiocese of Vienna, which gives hope for a positive development in the occupation of the archbishop's office.
The coming weeks and months remain decisive for the Catholic Church in Austria, Lund The eyes of the community are aimed at developments in this vacant position. It remains to be seen whether an early decision is imminent.
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| Ort | Wien, Österreich |
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