Austrian Bishops' Conference Opens Autumn Assembly in Vienna

The Austrian Bishops' Conference began its autumn general assembly in **Vienna** on **Monday, November 3, 2025**, bringing together the nation's Catholic episcopate for a four-day session. The conference, chaired by **Archbishop Franz Lackner** of Salzburg, is set to address various ecclesiastical and societal matters, with a focus on high-level meetings with political and ecumenical leaders. The assembly is scheduled to conclude on **Thursday, November 6**, with a press conference detailing the outcomes planned for Friday.

Key Engagements and High-Profile Meetings

A central part of the assembly's agenda includes a meeting with **Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen** on **Tuesday**. This marks the fourth such encounter between the bishops and the President since **2017**. On the same day, the bishops will engage in an exchange with the leaders of diocesan **Caritas** organizations at the **Vienna Archbishop's Palace**, underscoring the Church's commitment to social welfare. Furthermore, **Wednesday** is dedicated to ecumenical dialogue, with a scheduled meeting between the episcopate and representatives of **Oriental Orthodox Churches**.

Ecumenical and Internal Church Focus

The meeting with **Oriental Orthodox Churches** highlights the ongoing efforts towards inter-church understanding and cooperation. Among the attendees will be **Armenian Apostolic Bishop Tiran Petrosyan**, who recently assumed the chairmanship of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria (ÖRKÖ). Internally, the conference will also include a meeting with the **Apostolic Nuncio in Austria, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana**. This assembly is particularly notable as it is the first since the appointment of **Josef Grünwidl** as the Archbishop elect of Vienna.

Leadership and Public Service

The proceedings are led by **Archbishop Franz Lackner**, the current chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, with **Bishop Manfred Scheuer** of Linz serving as his deputy. The Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference, **Peter Schipka**, announced the planned meetings. A significant public event during the assembly will be an evening festive service at **St. Stephen's Cathedral** on **Tuesday**, to which all believers are invited. **Archbishop Lackner** will lead the celebration, and **Bishop Scheuer** will deliver the sermon. The Austrian Bishops' Conference, established in **1849**, serves as the supreme authority of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria and typically convenes three times annually.