Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, president of the Austrian Episcopal Conference, has called the nomination of Msgr. Klaus Küng, bishop of Feldkirch, as apostolic visitator for the diocese of Sankt Pölten, an “extraordinary and rare” provision. The cardinal explained that the apostolic visitator, responsible to the Pope alone, has the task of “informing himself as rapidly as possible about all the events” that have taken place at Sankt Pölten “and ensuring that the order of the universal Church be respected and restored within the diocese and in particular within the seminary”. This papal nomination, made known by the Holy See on 20 July, also spells the end of the commission of enquiry, set up by Msgr. Krenn, bishop of Sankt Pölten. Schönborn announced that “all important decisions” and “official statements” must be agreed in advance with the visitator, who is invested with “ample powers” during his period in office. “I think this is important so that he can work in peace and with determination”, he added. Schönborn called the provision of the Holy See “an important step towards the recovery of the situation”. “By now we all realize, and perceive with sorrow, how essential such a recovery is. Many people have been irritated, disappointed and saddened” by what has happened, he observed, while stressing that the reaction of the Austrian Church and of the Pope has been immediate. The cardinal made no forecasts about how long Msgr. Küng will remain at Sankt Pölten: “we will give our support to Msgr. Küng and he himself will find much support in the diocese”, he declared. For his part, Küng announced that he “will immediately address the problem of the seminary”. The bishop emphasised that he wanted to seek dialogue “beginning with the bishops and all those with responsibilities in the diocese. I will intervene when necessary to throw light on what has happened”.
