New Archbishop for Vienna? Grünwidl expects a decision by Advent!

New Archbishop for Vienna? Grünwidl expects a decision by Advent!

Things get down to business in Vienna: The archdiocese is facing significant changes. Josef Grünwidl, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna since January 22, 2025, expects a new archbishop to be appointed by Advent. The archbishop there, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, submitted his resignation on the same day because he turned 80 years old. This has paved the way for new leadership, and Grünwidl emphasizes that his task during the transition period is to maintain life within the archdiocese and continue the ongoing projects decided under Schönborn.

The appointment of the new archbishop has caused a lot of talk. Press spokesman Michael Prüller noted that the temporary solution in Rome suggests that a decision on the next archbishop is already in the starting blocks. “It could happen quickly, we hope for a decision in the next few weeks,” explains Prüller, who is confident that the process is already well advanced. For the faithful and parish leaders, the imminent appointment could bring about a significant change that will have far-reaching implications for the archdiocese.

The path of Josef Grünwidl

Josef Grünwidl himself has an impressive career behind him. The native of Lower Austria was born on January 31, 1963 in Hollabrunn and grew up in Wullersdorf. After studying theology in Vienna and further studying organ at the Vienna University of Music, he took on various leading positions within the church. His last role before being appointed Apostolic Administrator was that of Episcopal Vicar for the Vicariate of the South. In his career so far, Grünwidl has demonstrated a good knack for providing decisive impulses.

Grünwidl not only advocates for the continuity of church projects, but also advocates for a stronger role for women in church decision-making bodies. “It is important that we do not continue to postpone the topics of women’s ordination and their discussions,” he explained. He even recently appointed three women to the diocesan leadership team. These measures demonstrate a clear desire for reform, which will be seen as urgently necessary for some time. The pressure to modernize comes not least from the Reformation churches, which have taken a different perspective in recent decades.

A look at the future

His view of the role of the church is not without a critical note. Grünwidl believes that the church is “better than its reputation” and can create a necessary basis for social coexistence. Despite the challenges, he is optimistic that the church can find its place in the modern world. The challenges arising from Schönborn's resignation and the vacant archbishop position could therefore provide the necessary space for positive change.

Vienna can therefore look forward to the coming weeks, when the course for the future of the archdiocese will be set. Until then, the question that remains for the interested public is: Who will be the next Archbishop of Vienna?

At a time when change seems inevitable, it is especially important that the voices of everyone in the church are heard. The goal must be a strong community that not only accepts the challenge, but also remains sustainable. Time will tell how the archdiocese will develop under the interim leadership of Josef Grünwidl until the new archbishop takes over his role.

For further information, the relevant reports can be found here: Domradio, Erzdioezese Wien, Kath.net.