Pope Leo XIV appoints Josef Grünwidl as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, Austria.
Vatican News
The Holy See Press Office announced on Friday that Pope Leo XIV has appointed the former Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna.
The Archbishop-designate has served for the past nine months as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese following the retirement of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn in January upon reaching the age of 80. The 62-year-old priest now becomes the twelfth Archbishop of Vienna.
“God does not need me perfect, but available”
In a statement released by the Archdiocese of Vienna, Archbishop-designate Grünwidl said he accepted the appointment “after some hesitation,” explaining that a conviction matured in him over recent months:
“God does not need me to be perfect, He wants me to be available. Trusting in those who support me in prayer, and in God’s help, who will uphold, guide, and strengthen me, I gladly accept this task. I look forward to meeting many people, those who already belong to the Church and those who are still searching, to whom I might perhaps be of help along their life’s journey,” he said.
A pastor from the Archdiocese of Vienna
Born in Hollabrunn, Lower Austria, within the Archdiocese of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl studied theology and organ in the Austrian capital and was ordained a priest in 1988 by Cardinal Franz König in St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Over the years, he has served the Archdiocese in several pastoral and administrative roles, including as Secretary and later Episcopal Vicar under Cardinal Schönborn. Upon the latter’s retirement, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese.
Although not widely known beyond diocesan circles, Fr. Grünwidl is recognised as a dedicated pastor with a strong focus on spiritual renewal. The Archdiocese of Vienna, home to around 550,000 Catholics, is the largest in Austria.
Traditionally, the Archbishop of Vienna has been created a cardinal, though this practice was set aside under Pope Francis.
Cardinal Schönborn: “The Archdiocese is in good hands”
Reacting to the announcement, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna, expressed joy and gratitude for his successor’s appointment:
“For me, today is a deeply moving and joyful day. What could be more beautiful than knowing that our Archdiocese is in good hands! I am especially moved by the palpable joy throughout the diocese over his appointment. In the Eastern Churches, the faithful call out at an ordination: ‘Axios! He is worthy.’ It seems to me that people in the Church have been saying that about Josef Grünwidl for many weeks and months. How wonderful that Pope Leo has now confirmed it.”
