Archmodernist to be new Archbishop of Vienna. Now confirmed.
The Austrian Council of Ministers have this morning rubber-stamped the Pope's decision, which should be announced by the Vatican in the coming days.
Below a profile from ORF, the Austrian BBC.
Grünwidl: Church must listen and support more
Josef Grünwidl, Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna, spoke about challenges and reform issues in the Roman Catholic Church and his personal approach to faith.
In an interview broadcast on Sunday on the Ö1 program "Lebenskunst" (Art of Living), the former episcopal vicar expressed his openness to reforms such as mandatory celibacy and emphasized the need for the church to engage more closely with people's spiritual needs and realities.
Grünwidl expressed concern about the profound changes in the religious landscape in Austria. The decline in church affiliation is not just a reaction to church structures, but an expression of a comprehensive loss of faith in society.
"The era of the popular church is over"
"The era of the popular church is over," he explained. Only in exceptional cases is faith passed on from one generation to the next today. The Church must adapt to the new reality that people today consciously decide for or against faith, which often only happens in adulthood.
This makes it all the more important to accompany people on this path. "We have done too little to support spiritual and personal belonging," admitted the Apostolic Administrator. Those who are baptized, for example, as young people or adults, need concrete follow-up services, pastoral care, but also a genuine sense of being heard: "What do you need? What does it mean to live as a Christian?" are key questions that the Church must ask itself and to which it must provide answers.
Celibacy and the ordination of women
With regard to the debate surrounding priestly celibacy, the 63-year-old cleric expressed his openness to change. He added that he himself had consciously chosen a celibate priestly life and had never fundamentally questioned this path. Nevertheless, he does not consider mandatory celibacy to be theologically necessary, especially since it is only regulated by canon law, not dogmatically founded, and does not exist in other Christian churches.
Celibacy should not be a prerequisite for access to the priesthood, but rather a voluntary choice as a spiritual way of life. He considers reforms conceivable without questioning the essence of the priestly ministry.
Women in the College of Cardinals
Grünwidl also emphasized the importance of including women in church decision-making processes. In his role as administrator, he consciously ensures that women are appointed to key advisory bodies, such as the diocesan leadership team. "For me, this is not just a symbol, but a conviction," said the Apostolic Administrator. The discussion about the diaconate of women should not be suppressed. He also expressed his support for proposals to include women in the College of Cardinals and thus in the Pope's most important circle of advisors.
Despite justified criticism of the church, Grünwidl emphasized that there are still many vibrant and committed congregations, for example, with very active Caritas work, educational projects, and spiritual life. Especially in rural areas, the church provides "basic spiritual care" and enables encounters, community, and orientation. In other congregations, however, he observes fatigue, frustration, and helplessness; church life often amounts to nothing more than visionless "deficiency management." The administrator called for a new focus on spiritual roots: "If the church wants to remain credible, it must be spiritually alive."
Faith proven in everyday life
When asked about his personal spirituality, Grünwidl emphasized that for him, faith does not consist solely of rituals or withdrawal, but must be proven in everyday life: "Whether I am a spiritual person is not revealed by whether I am constantly on pilgrimages or spending hours in a chapel, but rather by my behavior toward other people." This also includes dealing with oneself, such as eating and drinking.
The interim director of the Archdiocese of Vienna cited the Benedictine Rule "ora et labora et lege" (pray, work, read) as a guideline, which stands for a holistic approach to life. Another role model for him is Teresa of Avila, with mottos such as "God alone is sufficient" and "Patience accomplishes everything." Furthermore, the medieval saint experienced a second conversion while still a nun, after which she placed herself entirely at God's disposal.
Central role of music
Music also plays a central role for him, said Grünwidl, referring to his original studies in organ performance. It was only late in life that he gave up his career aspirations as a musician in favour of his vocation as a priest. He still loves going to concerts, and works such as Johann Sebastian Bach's Mass in B minor are spiritual "magic moments" for him. For him, music is "food" and a "path to God", and the same applies to experiences of nature, such as hiking in the mountains. These moments provide distance, perspective and clarity. "Standing at the top of the mountain helps me to regain order and to relativise some things that are pushed to the fore in everyday life and are given a status that they shouldn't have."
Grünwidl was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna by Pope Francis in January 2025 following the retirement of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. As interim head, he is entrusted with the administration of the diocese until a new archbishop is appointed.
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