Vatican issues declaration on Church in Austria

It concerns, before anything else, the situation in the Diocese of Linz (Cathcon- you can say that again).

The Holy See has today, Tuesday, issued the following Declaration on the two meetings of Cardinal Schönborn and the three other Austrian Bishops which have taken place since yesterday, Monday, with Pope Benedict XVI. and with leading representatives of the Roman Curia in the Vatican. The new Apostolic Nuncio in Austria, Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen attended.

The Holy Father asked the shepherds, in particular, to attempt renewal by engaging in catechesis in the light of the Catechism the Catholic Church. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the summer session of the Austrian Bishops' Conference begins in Mariazell.

Great Mother of Austria, pray for us!

* * *
Attending
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn
Archbishop of Vienna, Chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference
Archbishop Alois Kothgasser
Archbishop of Salzburg
Bishop Egon Kapellari
Bishop of Graz-Seckau, Vice Chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference
Bishop Ludwig Schwarz Bishop of Linz

Also present was:
Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen
Apostolic Nuncio to Austria
From the side of the Roman Curia:
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
Cardinal William Joseph Levada
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Cardinal Claudio Hummes
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski
Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education
Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko
President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity

At this meeting, genuine collegiality was identified and in a fraternal dialogue and in a constructive spirit some topics relating to the situation of the Diocese of Linz and the Church in Austria were discussed, solutions for current problems being addressed. The Holy Father recalled the urgency of deepening of faith, full fidelity to Vatican II and the Magisterium of the post-conciliar Church and the renewal of catechesis in the light of Catechism of the Catholic Church. Moreover, doctrinal and pastoral issues and issues pertaining to the situation of the clergy, the laity, the seminaries and Theological Faculties in Linz and in other dioceses in Austria were discussed.

The Austrian Bishops thanked the Holy Father for his paternal care and for this encounter, as a sign of his solidarity with the Church in Austria, and expressed to him their full communion and loyalty. The Austrian Bishops also thank the Roman Curia for the fruitful cooperation and for their readiness to assist in the matter.

Cathcon: Linz has got a very limited time to come to order or there will be an Apostolic Visitation, and a new Bishop.