Eastern Churches in Vienna: Unity in Diversity - A historic meeting!
Heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches meet in Vienna for the annual meeting to promote unity in diversity and discuss challenges.

Eastern Churches in Vienna: Unity in Diversity - A historic meeting!
The Eastern Catholic Churches of Europe met in Vienna for their 26th annual meeting. From September 14th to 17th, 2025, the heads of the Eastern Catholic Churches met under the motto “Unity in Diversity”. A central concern of the conference was strengthening community within the Catholic Church, especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. How vaticannews reported, the deep connection between the believing communities was once again emphasized.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn emphasized the importance of the ordinariates for migrant believers. The Austrian Ordinariate includes an impressive 43 congregations and receives valuable support from the Austrian Bishops' Conference. In his address, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas described the Eastern Catholic Churches as a "leaven" in an increasingly secularized Europe, which provides a very vivid picture of the present. The gathering also provided a platform for exchanges on the relationship with the Pope and coexistence with the Latin Church.
A particular highlight was the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom in St. Stephen's Cathedral, where around 60 oriental bishops solemnly gathered. This liturgy was broadcast live and was found to be very moving by the participants.
Challenges and perspectives
In light of the war in Ukraine, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk thanked the churches and authorities for their support. The bishops also agreed on numerous proposals to involve young believers more closely in church life and to improve the training of the clergy. This also included the publication of canonical documents and support for clergy in the diaspora - particularly important for strengthening the community across national borders.
The next meeting is already being planned: it will take place in Máriapócs, Hungary, in September 2026. This promises to be another significant meeting to promote dialogue and unity among the Eastern Catholic Churches.
A look beyond the borders
Parallel to this meeting, an important symposium of the general secretaries of nine Catholic bishops' conferences in Central Europe took place, which recalled the cultural and religious peculiarities of the region. In Subotica, Serbia, the general secretaries led by Bishop Laszlo Nemet discussed the unity and diversity of cultures in the Church. Tamas Toth, General Secretary of the Hungarian Bishops' Conference, drew attention to how historically grown communities, such as those created by immigration in the 18th century, continue to shape the region today. This cultural diversity is also evident in daily communication, which includes Hungarian, Croatian, German and Latin.
The diversity and unity of the Eastern Catholic Churches are at the heart of these discussions, and the recent gathering was a further step on this journey. How on katholisch.at As is made clear, the bishops' conferences are actively committed to intercultural exchange and unity within the churches.
The Eastern Catholic Churches are a fascinating chapter within the Roman Catholic Church, looking back on a historical development marked by effort, celebration and a constant striving for unity. These surprises and challenges are essential parts of life in the Catholic community and give the Church a living face. Further information on the background of the Eastern Catholic Churches can be found at Wikipedia.