Salzburg Archbishop Franz Lackner is celebrating ten years in office. He sees significant challenges for the church and wants to “awaken the longing for God.”
On the occasion of his tenth full year as Archbishop of Salzburg, Franz Lackner looks back on this time “with great gratitude,” according to the archdiocese. At the same time, he sees major tasks for the future. Ceremoniously introduced on January 12, 2014. Lack of priests, people leaving the church, dwindling funds, loss of importance of the church – “these are all challenges that we have to deal with,” said the former Styrian auxiliary bishop, who ceremoniously took up his new office in Salzburg on January 12, 2014 was introduced. Faith in the resurrection is also disappearing in Lackner’s eyes. The archbishop “wants to awaken people’s longing for God.” “It’s not always easy to carry out such an office.” About his time as Archbishop of Salzburg, Lackner says that it is “not always easy in our time to carry out such an office.” For example, it is difficult to convey that faith also needs an institution. In view of major current crises such as the wars in Ukraine, the Holy Land and Artsakh (Karabakh), realism is appropriate. Last year, Lackner took part in the World Synod of Bishops in Rome, the central church event in 2023. Thanksgiving service for the anniversary on January 14th. On the tenth anniversary of his inauguration, Archbishop Lackner will celebrate the High Mass as a thanksgiving service on Sunday, January 14th, at 10 a.m. in Salzburg Cathedral. The 67-year-old native of Styria has also been chairman of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference since 2020.
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