Austria: Bishops’ Plenary on 16-19 March. Election of new president, Querida Amazonia and state of Catholic academic education on the agenda

After 22 years of service as head of the Austrian Bishops, Card. Christoph Schönborn, 75, announced he would resign on 17 March, in conjunction with the spring plenary assembly of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference (ÖBK). The cardinal will chair the first day of the conference that will be held from Monday 16 to Thursday 19 March at St. Michael Bildungshaus in Pfons. The ÖBK will elect a successor to Card. Schönborn, whose resignation comes 2 years before the natural end of his term in office. In the course of their work, the Bishops will discuss Pope Francis’ post-synodal document “Querida Amazonia”, and current political issues. They will also exchange views on the state of academic and higher education institutions of the Austrian Church. The Bishops will also discuss the preparations for two important national church events: the Austrian parish council from 21 to 23 May in Saalfelden, and the “Jesus in the City” youth meeting to be held in Klagenfurt from 3 to 5 July.
Valentina Bombelli