"Today, Vienna is a land of mission. The time the Christian faith is going through in our country demands a strong evangelical message, a renewal of the Church, more attention to young people, who are giving us strong signs of hope". Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, does not hide the fact the Austrian ecclesial community is going through a difficult time. He came to Cologne to join the WYD, and also "to understand what the young are asking us, how they question and let themselves be questioned by the faith and the Gospel". "Christianity in Austria has a strong historical tradition, with many beautiful churches and ancient monasteries. But we realise now we are a minority in this country. A minority that, however, is trying to experience strong values and to live in communion. Until not long ago explains Schönborn we couldn’t even think of not going to Mass on a Sunday. Now, sometimes we have to pluck up our courage to speak publicly of our faith". The cardinal speaks of the latest vicissitudes of the Austrian Church, the role of the movements and the laymen and the results of the recent Mission of Vienna, "whose first fruits we are now trying to pick". And he adds: "We need a new, brave missionary spirit to bear witness to our belief in our age".
