Pope Francis Accepts Cardinal Schönborn's Resignation and Appoints Apostolic Administrator Fr. Josef Grünwidl for Vienna's Archdiocese

Pope accepts Cardinal Schönborn's resignation – Fr. Josef Grünwidl is appointed Apostolic Administrator for the Archdiocese of Vienna, in Austria.
In his initial reaction, Cardinal Schönborn expressed his delight at the appointment of Josef Grünwidl: "Josef Grünwidl has been a dear friend of mine for many years. He was an excellent secretary for three years and an outstanding pastor in Kirchberg am Wechsel and Perchtoldsdorf. He will now lead the diocese until the Pope appoints a new bishop."
Pope Francis opts for an interim arrangement. Fr. Josef Grünwidl administers the archdiocese until a new archbishop takes office.
On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn . The announcement was made at noon in the Vatican press room in the daily bulletin. With this step, the bishop's seat in Vienna is vacant for the time being.

Cardinal Schönborn, who celebrates his 80th birthday today, had already offered his resignation to the Pope five years ago, on the occasion of his 75th birthday, in accordance with the provisions of canon law. With a term of office of 29 years and a good four months, he is one of the four longest-serving archbishops in Vienna.

At the same time, Pope Francis appointed Josef Grünwidl as Apostolic Administrator. In this role, Grünwidl will now manage the Archdiocese of Vienna until the future bishop takes office. "The fact that Rome has thus created an interim solution shows us that Pope Francis has apparently not yet made a decision on who the next Archbishop of Vienna should be," said the press spokesman for the Archdiocese of Vienna, Michael Prüller: "However, since the process is probably already well advanced, we hope for a decision in the next few weeks."
Ordinary for the Catholics of the Catholic Eastern Churches in Austria
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn will remain Ordinary for the Catholics of the Eastern Catholic Churches in Austria until further notice. He will also continue to be Chairman of the Council of Cardinals, which oversees the Vatican Bank (IOR), and a member of the Vatican Dicastery for the Eastern Catholic Churches. As part of the worldwide College of Bishops and a member of the College of Cardinals, he will retain emeritus membership rights even after reaching the age of 80, but will lose the right to vote in the conclave.
In a video message, Schönborn expressed his thanks to all the people of the Archdiocese of Vienna: "Above all, I have to thank God and I have to thank all of you," said the outgoing archbishop, because the decisive experience for him in the almost 30 years of his office was: "Church only works together, society only works together." Despite all the difficulties, tensions and painful events that have occurred, he believes "that in these years we have been given the gift of really coming together without having to give up our own points of view. That the communion, the community, has really become strong." He is really grateful for that.
In his initial reaction, Cardinal Schönborn expressed his delight at the appointment of Josef Grünwidl: "Josef Grünwidl has been a dear friend of mine for many years. He was an excellent secretary for three years and an outstanding pastor in Kirchberg am Wechsel and Perchtoldsdorf. He will now lead the diocese until the Pope appoints a new bishop." The outgoing archbishop asks everyone to pray for administrator Josef Grünwidl.
Josef Grünwidl, born in 1963 in Wullersdorf in the Weinviertel, was ordained a priest in 1988. His previous duties included serving as secretary to Cardinal Schönborn, pastor and dean in Kirchberg am Wechsel and pastor and dean in Perchtoldsdorf until his appointment as episcopal vicar for southeastern Lower Austria on January 22, 2023.
According to canon law, an administrator has limited powers. He may not make any decisions that could limit the future archbishop's freedom of action. For example, he can only fill vacant parishes on a temporary basis, but cannot make permanent appointments. Josef Grünwidl is not the first administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna; among the eight administrators to date, Saint Peter Canisius (1544/45), the author of the first and most influential catechism, stands out in particular.
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