Surprise candidate now in the running to succeed Cardinal Schönborn

Schönborn's Successor: Another proposal probably in the works

According to the "Presse," the Nunciature is also considering the Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference, Peter Schipka

The search for a new Catholic Archbishop of Vienna remains difficult. Although a new pope, Leo XIV, is now in office, he is unlikely to appoint a successor to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn before the summer, according to church sources. According to the press, even the Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference, Peter Schipka, is now being considered as the new Archbishop. A decision in the summer is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Schönborn's resignation was accepted by the now deceased Pope Francis in January of this year, and since then, Josef Grünwidl has been administering the Archdiocese of Vienna as Apostolic Administrator. His appointment was actually seen as a signal for an imminent decision. However, the search remains difficult. Several candidates are said to have withdrawn.

Although the new Pope has already made initial personnel decisions, these could be older proposals from the responsible Vatican Dicastery for Bishops, whose prefect Leo XIV once served under his civil name, Robert Francis Prevost. Church insiders see the fact that there is still no successor for this ecclesiastical authority as a further delaying factor for the Vienna decision.

A decision on Cardinal Christoph Schönborn's successor in the summer is becoming increasingly unlikely.

Nuncio always inquires

But there is also optimism in the Austrian Catholic Church, as the new Holy Father is well acquainted with the situation in the Austrian Church. However, it is up to the Apostolic Nuncio Pedro López Quintana to send a three-person proposal to Rome. He appears to have already done so, although all the candidates are said to have declined.

According to the press, the nunciature is now eyeing a candidate they initially didn't expect: Schipka, Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference. Schipka, a native of Vienna and a law graduate, has held this position since March 2011. However, the archdiocese cannot confirm that the Nuncio inquired about Schipka's standing in the church via a survey. This would not be unusual, as the Nuncio regularly asks around.

So, not many church experts believe that a decision could be made this summer. However, it cannot be ruled out. After all, Schönborn was announced as Vienna's Auxiliary Bishop, and so was Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër, in July.

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