It is about the most influential church office in Austria: in the race for the successor of the Archbishop Christoph Schönborn in Vienna, two candidates seem to be paramount. Both represent different Catholic currents.
For more than five months, the Viennese diocese, one of the most important and most powerful church offices in Austria, has been empty. The death of Pope Francis mixed the cards. Now Leo XIV has to decide as a “Lion of Hope” about the successor of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.
Many cancellations and a candidate who also wants
After many cancellations, such as recently by the apostolic manager Josef Grünwidl, the search seems to go in the hot phase. A promising candidate already has the testing of the Vatican behind him. It is well known with Peter Schipa, as an old secretary of the Austrian bishops’ conference with both church and secular and political issues. It is considered liberal. And: he wants too.
Peter Schipka once got the headlines in the Chataffaire around Justice Crown Thomas Schmid, who gave him “Vollgas” on behalf of former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz as a counterpart at that time. But the 54-year-old lawyer and Catholic spiritual who was held against it in power struggle.
Promotion in the Vatican “Not out of vanity”
In Vatican circles because of his good threads there, the father Karl Wallner, who is considered more conservative, also acted as a secret favorite. Recently – he did – not from vanity “, as he hurried to add – in an interview with the papal news portal himself – Promotion:” Five cardinals in the last conclave are their priesthood training to Missio Austria. “
25 letters with accusations about “Skandal-Stift”
An obstacle in the church thriller could of course be the “scandal pencil” of the 62-year-old priest. Because Heiligenkreuz focuses on investigations by the Vatican and also of the state criminal police station in Lower Austria in a delicate affair. It is now about 25 (!) Anonymous writing clearly one and the same insider with serious accusations of abuse and dealing with management.
The Innsbruck Diocesan Bishop Hermann Glettler and the styrician bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl also have outsider opportunities. Or the Vatican still causes a ecclesiastical surprise.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
