Emeritus Bishop Maximilian Aichern, 93, nears death after lifelong service to the Church
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Linz has raised serious concerns about the health of Emeritus Bishop Maximilian Aichern. At 93, his condition has worsened sharply, and he is now preparing for death. The bishop remained engaged with church and societal matters until recently.
Maximilian Aichern was born on December 26, 1932, in Vienna. In 1954, he joined the Benedictine Abbey of St. Lambrecht. Five years later, he was ordained a priest in Vatican City.
After ordination, he worked as a chaplain at St. Lambrecht Abbey and taught catechism at a vocational school. By 32, he had become abbot coadjutor, and in 1977, he was named abbot. His leadership extended beyond the abbey when Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Linz in Vatican City in December 1981. His consecration took place the following January.
During his time as bishop, Aichern played a key role in drafting the 1990 Social Pastoral Letter. He also focused on issues like Women and the Church and oversaw religious orders, Catholic Action, and workers' pastoral care within the Austrian Bishops' Conference.
Now, Bishop Manfred Scheuer and Abbot Alfred Eichmann of St. Lambrecht Abbey have asked the faithful to pray for Aichern as his health declines.
Aichern's long career spanned roles as priest, abbot, and bishop. His contributions included major pastoral initiatives and advocacy for women in the Church. The diocese continues to monitor his condition while urging prayers for his final days.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
