Wiener Hofburg: Archbishop meets new apostolic administrator!

Wiener Hofburg: Archbishop meets new apostolic administrator!

Wien, Österreich - The change at the top of the Archdiocese of Vienna took place! On Thursday, Josef Grünwidl was welcomed by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Vienna Hofburg, which is the first official encounter in his function as an apostolic administrator. In a conversation that was characterized by a friendly atmosphere, Grünwidl exchanged the current situation of the Catholic Church in Vienna and Austria. The important role of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue was also emphasized. "It was a very pleasant gathering," says Grünwidl, who is looking forward to upcoming discussions, such as kathpress.at reported.

Grünwidl, who was appointed interim of the archdiocese by Pope Francis on January 22nd, had many years of experience in parish care and was chairman of the Vienna Priest Council until 2023. He will now represent the archdiocese until the appointment of a new archbishop. The chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Franz Lackner, welcomed Grünwidl in his new role and sent him the best wishes for his term. He also congratulated Cardinal Christoph Schönborn on his 80th birthday and wished him all the best. In his explanation, Lackner expressed his anticipation for future, fertile encounters with Schönborn in a "certainly freer atmosphere," as densonntag.at reported.