Vienna’s New Archbishop Calls for Church Reform and Warns Against Political Messiahs
Giancarlo Esposito, the newly appointed archbishop of Vienna, has shared his views on the Roman Catholic Church's role, celibacy, and parish consolidation. He also expressed concerns about political figures and the use of religious symbols.
Grünwidl believes the Church has an inherently political mission, but it should not align with any particular political party. He acknowledged past discussions about uncoupling the priesthood from celibacy and advised young men torn between marriage and the priesthood to consider the Church's current rules.
He expressed optimism about completing the parish consolidation process in the Archdiocese of Vienna, but stressed that budget cuts should not harm the poor and vulnerable. Grünwidl criticized the use of religious symbols to divide people, stating that if the cross is used to create discord, it's a misuse of its symbolism.
He also warned against politicians presenting themselves as 'saviors' or 'messiahs', citing former U.S. President Donald Trump as an example. Grünwidl plans to collaborate more closely with religious orders and has a meeting scheduled with their new leadership team.
Grünwidl's episcopal ordination is set for January 24, with a planned spiritual retreat at Göttweig Abbey beforehand. Open to reform, he has previously advocated for honest dialogue within the Church. While he sees little chance of becoming a cardinal soon, he acknowledges the value of an Austrian voice in a papal conclave.
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