Josef Grünwidl takes over as Archbishop of Vienna

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Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s successor as Archbishop of Vienna is Josef Grünwidl.

Josef Grünwidl will be the new Archbishop of Vienna. The Vatican announced this on Friday afternoon in its “Bollettino.” The 62-year-old, who took over as Apostolic Administrator after Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s resignation in January, wants to be a team player, bridge builder, and pastor, as he emphasized at a press conference. His consecration as bishop is expected to take place on January 24 and will be performed by Schönborn.

Grünwidl: “God does not want me to be perfect, but available.”

Grünwidl, who until then will be addressed as “appointed bishop,” had actually emphasized in the past that he did not want to take on the office. “It took a very long time,” he said now about the nine-month wait for a successor after Schönborn’s resignation. During his time as apostolic administrator, however, he realized, “God does not want me to be perfect, but available.” “Perfect” and “complete,” on the other hand, are categories that apply to God. In the end, he said ‘yes’ to this task “wholeheartedly and gladly.”

He explained his initial “no” by saying that he felt “really overwhelmed” by the many new tasks in the first few weeks. Over the course of nine months, however, he got to know the areas of work and his colleagues better. During visits to parishes, he also heard the wish that he should not say no when asked, and now the Pope has also decided in his favor. Schönborn also stated on Friday that he had wanted Grünwidl to be his successor.

Grünwidl does not yet have a finished concept for his work as archbishop. However, he has resolved not to get bogged down in management tasks and instead to remain a pastor. He wants to continue reaching out to the poor, the sick, children, and young people, he said. He wants to shape the future of the diocese as a team player and build bridges both within the Church and in interreligious dialogue.

Grünwidl presented himself as progressive

When asked about controversial issues, he continued to present himself as progressive. Celibacy will always exist in the Church, but it should be a “free choice,” Grünwidl said. He could also imagine “women being admitted to the priesthood.” However, this question could only be clarified at an ecumenical council. In any case, he advocated for women to be more involved in the church’s decision-making bodies. He did not want to “constantly comment” on current political events, but he would speak out when it came to human rights or the protection of life.

“The church should stay in the village,” said Grünwidl in view of the pressure to save money. He sees maintaining the church as a “local spiritual provider” as a challenge. The decline in membership is problematic. He is convinced that to win new followers, the church must reach out to people. It is essential to bring the “melody of the Gospel”—a message of hope and confidence—to the people.

Grünwidl’s appointment was unanimously welcomed on Friday by politicians, the church, and representatives of other religious communities. The Council of Ministers, which must deal with the matter in accordance with the concordat, has already approved the appointment. It remains to be seen whether Grünwidl, like Schönborn and his predecessor, will also be appointed cardinal and thus have a vote in the election of the next pope.

Van der Bellen congratulated

The appointment of Josef Grünwidl as the new Archbishop of Vienna was greeted with unanimous joy on Friday. Congratulations came from Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, who wished Grünwidl “all the best for this responsible service.” Grünwidl’s colleagues also expressed their joy. The Austrian bishops said that he was a good choice and that they looked forward to working with him.

Archbishop Franz Lackner, chairman of the Bishops’ Conference, wrote of “great joy” throughout the Church in Austria. With Grünwidl, Vienna was getting a “true shepherd, a pastor.” The diocesan bishop of Graz, Wilhelm Krautwaschl, struck a similar note. Grünwidl was ideally suited for the office. The bishop of Innsbruck, Hermann Gletter, who had himself been considered a candidate, saw the pope’s decision as a “solid” one. For Carinthian Bishop Josef Marketz, Grünwidl is already very familiar with the specific challenges and peculiarities of the Church in Vienna. As an administrator, he has won many sympathies. Vorarlberg Bishop Benno Elbs described Cardinal Christoph Schönborn’s successor as a sensitive mediator of the Gospel.

Protestant superintendent in Vienna speaks of a “gift”

According to Kathpress, the other Christian denominations also responded positively on Friday. In his letter of congratulations on behalf of all religious communities, Bishop Tiran Petrosyan, chairman of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria (ÖRKÖ), emphasized the existing relations with the Catholic Church and, in particular, with the Archdiocese of Vienna. He wrote in a statement to the Kathpress news agency that they were looking forward to the expected “continuation of good ecumenical cooperation in Austria” under Grünwidl.

Bishop Michael Chalupka of the Protestant Church expressed his delight that with Josef Grünwidl, “the exemplary path of ecumenism in Austria can be continued and further deepened.” The Protestant superintendent of Vienna, Matthias Geist, described Grünwidl as a “gift.” Good wishes and blessings also came from the Orthodox Metropolitan Arsenios Kardamakis.

“Warm congratulations and best wishes” also came from the president of the Jewish Community (IKG), Oskar Deutsch: “We look forward to continuing the cooperation we enjoyed with your highly esteemed predecessors, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn and Cardinal Franz König,” Deutsch said via X.

Stocker wished the new Archbishop of Vienna “much strength and confidence”

Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) expressed his delight on X and wished the new archbishop “much strength and confidence for the tasks in his new office.” Minister of Culture Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) emphasized that Pope Leo XIV had chosen in Grünwidl “an archbishop who knows the Church in all its facets.” Expressions of joy also came from NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Green Party leader Leonore Gewessler, who is looking forward to an initial exchange.

Vienna’s mayor, Michael Ludwig (SPÖ), emphasized that he had come to know Grünwidl as a “very level-headed, prudent, and cosmopolitan pastor, priest, and church representative.” With his appointment as Archbishop of Vienna, Pope Leo XIV had “appointed a personality respected far beyond the Catholic Church as the successor to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.” Congratulations also came from Lower Austria’s Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP). She wished the native of Lower Austria “much strength and God’s blessing for this responsible task.”

Caritas of the Archdiocese of Vienna is looking forward to working with the new archbishop, who stands for a church that is close to the people and recognizes their needs. Missio Austria also expressed its delight, as did the reform movement “We Are Church.” Grünwidl’s appointment is “a welcome signal to the church community of the Archdiocese of Vienna,” according to the latter.