Cardinal Schönborn celebrates Christmas with inmates in prison!

Cardinal Schönborn celebrates Christmas with inmates in prison!

The upcoming Christmas is a very special event for the inmates of the Vienna-Josefstadt judicial facility. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the Archbishop of Vienna, celebrated a festive service in the prison chapel on Wednesday, December 20, 2024. With the celebration of this traditional event, Schönborn wants to give hope and comfort to the prisoners. At the center of the service held in the festively decorated chapel was the message of Jesus as a good shepherd, which shows that every person who is lost is brought back. Schönborn spoke to the prisoners direct words of the consolation: "If you run out, I'll search for and get you home. That applies to each of us!" In a warm act of gratitude, the prisoners presented the cardinal a handmade souvenir from metal and three roses that symbolize the virtue of belief, hope and love, as in a report by kathpress can be read.

special farewell to the cardinal

The year 2025 will also be of great importance for Cardinal Schönborn, since his official farewell party will take place on January 18, 2025 in the St. St. Stephen Cathedral. The service, which begins at 2 p.m., will be a celebration of thanks and the blessing for the almost three decades of term of office of Schönborn as an archbishop. Pope Francis is expected to accept the cardinal's resignation at this time. The Archdiocese of Vienna has invited everyone who was touched by Schönborn in any way to participate in this special celebration and to share their memories, such as katholisch.at reported. There will also be opportunities to donate to aid projects or prayers that were important to Schönborn during his decades of service.