St. Stephen's Cathedral sold out: Josef Grünwidl's episcopal ordination is imminent!

St. Stephen's Cathedral sold out: Josef Grünwidl's episcopal ordination is imminent!

The time has come next week: Josef Grünwidl will be ordained as the new Archbishop of Vienna on January 24, 2026. The anticipation is great because St. Stephen's Cathedral is already becoming the meeting point for countless visitors for this solemn event. All 3,000 seats in the iconic church are already sold out, so the mood among friends and companions is high courier reported.

The solemn service begins on January 24th at 2 p.m. and will be led by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. At his side, Archbishop Franz Lackner and Bishop Stanislav Přibyl will carry out the episcopal ordination. The special nature of this event is reflected not only in the number of guests expected, but also in the diversity of those present: among them are not only the two auxiliary bishops of Vienna, but also representatives of all Austrian bishops and guests from four partner dioceses.

A celebration of community

Around 150 young people from various parishes, including Perchtoldsdorf and Kirchberg am Wechsel, will minister at the service. This active participation underlines the community's bond with its new archbishop. Various guests of honor, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, will also be drawn to the venerable halls of St. Stephen's Cathedral to support Grünwidl. The state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig have also announced their presence to celebrate this special event.

The ringing of all the bells in the Archdiocese of Vienna on January 24th between 1:45 p.m. and 1:55 p.m. sets a further festive accent. Security measures will ensure that parts of Stephansplatz will be closed during the celebrations, and access to St. Stephen's Cathedral will only be possible with a valid access card after the 8 a.m. mass.

Live stream for everyone interested

There is good news for those who cannot make it to the church in person: the service can be followed live on ORF 2, radio klassik Stephansdom and Radio Maria, as on Vatican News announced. In this way, everyone can help to ensure that the festive character of the event can also be experienced within their own four walls.

With this consecration, Josef Grünwidl will become the 33rd Archbishop of Vienna and will look forward to his new task with the quote “Only those who burn within can shine.” These words reflect his enthusiasm and dedication that he would like to bring to his future work to promote and shape spiritual life in Vienna.

Preparations are in full swing and the anticipation is palpable in the city. St. Stephen's Cathedral, as the central site of the Christian faith in Vienna, will once again be the setting for a historical moment that radiates far beyond the walls of the cathedral and invites everyone to take part in this brilliant celebration.