CARDINAL Christoph Schönborn, O.P., a prominent Dominican who served as principal editor of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, has stepped down from his post as archbishop of Vienna, Austria after almost three decades of service.
Pope Francis accepted the resignation on Schönborn’s 80th birthday on Jan. 22.
The Austrian prelate had long been considered papabile or a papal contender for his theological expertise. He worked closely with the late Pope Benedict XVI in editing the Catechism for over six years until it was published in 1992.
Three years after the Catechism’s publication, he became archbishop of Vienna. Schönborn replaced Cardinal Hans Groër, who resigned following accusation of sexual abuse.
Schönborn was a known critic of the Vatican during the time for its attempts to cover up sexual abuses committed by some priests.
Schönborn became a key ally at the start of Pope Francis’ pontificate, having supported the latter’s views on highly controversial issues such as the Church’s treatment of divorce-remarried people and the LGBT community.
Born into an aristocratic family that produced officers and prelates for the Holy Roman Empire, Schönborn joined the Order of Preachers in 1963. He was ordained priest in 1970 at the age of 25.
He studied sacred theology in France and Germany under the instruction of then-Fr. Joseph Ratzinger.
Pope St. John Paul II appointed him a member of the International Theological Commission in 1980, joining the then-Cardinal Ratzinger, who was appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981.
In 1998, Schönborn received the red hat. He then became president of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference, which he led for 22 years
Schönborn also authored Youcat, or the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church, in 2011.
At 80, he will no longer be eligible to vote in a future conclave that will choose Pope Francis’ successor, but will remain a member of the College of Cardinals.
The Vatican appointed one of Vienna’s episcopal vicars, Fr. Josef Grünwidl, as Vienna’s apostolic administrator.
