Thanksgiving Service for the Farewell of Cardinal Schönborn with 4,000 Guests

The resignation of the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, is imminent - even though a successor has not yet been officially confirmed. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, the archdiocese will bid him farewell on January 18th with a large-scale thanksgiving service at St. Stephen's Cathedral, to which not only ecclesiastical celebrities are invited. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen will give a speech at the end of the celebration. About 4,000 people are expected.

Service for Schönborn with President's Speech

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has led the Archdiocese of Vienna as Archbishop for almost 30 years. Around his 80th birthday at the end of January, Pope Francis is expected to accept his resignation. Schönborn himself will lead the thanksgiving service. Among the celebrants are representatives from ecumenism, politics, and society. The ORF will broadcast the approximately two-hour celebration live.

In addition to Federal President Van der Bellen, Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP), Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) and Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner are also expected. Also, "many companions from Austria and abroad," as it is said.

Joint Baptismal Remembrance of the Guests

Special elements of the service, according to "Kathpress", are a joint baptismal remembrance of the guests from the different Christian churches and the handing over of a gospel book with thousands of signatures and a letter of dispatch to Cardinal Schönborn. The collection of the service goes in part to single mothers and a Christian-run old people's home in Syria.

Waiting for Schönborn's Successor

Whether the search for a new Archbishop of Vienna will be completed before the thanksgiving service is questionable. According to reports, two candidates from the original trio proposed by the Nunciature in Austria have already declined, including the former Caritas President Michael Landau. It is possible that Pope Francis will accept Schönborn's resignation on his birthday on January 22nd. Then a so-called sede vacante would occur and subsequently an administrator would be appointed for the archdiocese.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.