Bishop Ludwig Schwarz celebrates 85 years full of dedication and joy!

Bishop Ludwig Schwarz celebrates 85 years full of dedication and joy!

Linz, Österreich - June 4, 2025 will be a very special day for the Catholic community in Linz, because then Bishop EM celebrates. Ludwig Schwarz SDB his 85th birthday. Known for his humor, his warm way and his joy in faith, he touched and inspired many people in his over ten -year term as Bishop of the Diocese of Linz. The official appointment as Bishop of Linz was at the time by Pope Benedict XVI. On July 6, 2005 and its solemn inauguration took place on September 18, 2005. His motto "Servite Domino in Laetitia" ("Dienet the Lord in Joy", Psalm 100.2) reflects his attitude to life.

Schwarz, who was born on June 4, 1940 in Pressburg as the first of nine children, has had an eventful life. Growing up in a time of upheaval, his family was driven out of Slovakia in 1945 and found a new home in Vienna. Already at the age of 16 he entered the Order of the Salesian Don Boscos, where he not only received his priestly consecration, but also built a career as a teacher and pastor. After several stations, such as the Rectorate Office in Horn and as a provincial of the Austrian Salesian Province, he was appointed auxiliary bishop in Vienna in 2001 before taking over the bishopric in Linz four years later.

a thank you for the farewell

As part of his upcoming birthday, Ludwig Schwarz will be adopted on January 31, 2016 in a solemn service in the Mariendom in Linz. On this occasion, all Upper Austrians are cordially invited to celebrate. The service is enriched by around 120 altar servers who bring the gifts to the altar during the ceremony. Many bishops from Austria and beyond, as well as personalities from political and social life are also expected. In addition to sensitive speeches by Nuntius Archbishop Peter Stephan Zurbriggen and Governor Josef Pühringer, the cathedral propstation Wilhelm Vieböck will keep the sermon.

After the handover of the bishop's staff to his successor Manfred Scheuer and the dismissal on January 17, 2016, Schwarz lived in Vöcklabruck until the summer of 2024 before moving to an older retirement home in Kritzendorf. His endeavor to live near his family and religious community remains a formative aspect of his last years of life.

influence and legacy

During his time as a bishop, Schwarz was known for his strict compliance with church norms. Controversy, such as the dismissal of press spokesman Ferdinand Kaineder in 2009 and the dismissal of the headinger pastor Andrzej Skoblicki due to allegations on sect -like conditions, show the challenges with which black was confronted. Nevertheless, he remained a respected figure in the Diocese of Linz and beyond during his term. The resignation of his office was finally accepted by Pope Francis in November 2015, which recognized his many years of activity.

In every situation, Bishop Ludwig Schwarz was a role model for many. He leaves an encouraging legacy of joy and faith and will always live in the hearts of the people he touched. The diocese of Linz and the Salesian Don Boscos thank him for his tireless services and celebrate his 85 years of fulfilling life with great gratitude.

Further information can be found in the reports of dioezese-linz.at and meinbezirk.at , as well as in a comprehensive overview on wikipedia .