Christoph Schönborn
Christoph Schönborn (born January 22, 1945 in Skalken near Leitmeritz, Sudetenland) has been Archbishop of Vienna since 1995 and since 1998 Chairman of the Austrian Bishops' Conference. Schönborn comes from a noble family who - like so many German speaking people - had to leave Czechoslovakia after the Second World War. Schönborn grew up in Schruns in Vorarlberg's Montafon. After graduation, Schönborn entered the Dominican Order in Warburg (Westphalia) in 1963 and studied theology and philosophy. In 1970 he was ordained a priest in Vienna by Archbishop Franz König. In 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed him as auxiliary bishop. In September 1995 he succeeded Hans Hermann Groër as Archbishop of Vienna. As a cardinal Schönborn was both a participant in the 2005 Conclave, in which Cardinal Josef Ratzinger was elected Pope (Benedict XVI) and the Conclave 2013, in which the Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope (Francis). Schönborn has repeatedly advocated peace, for example in Syria and on the spot in Sarajevo. Ecumenism is his concern, as is dialogue with representatives of Judaism and Islam. For Christoph Schönborn the EU is a great peace project that he sees endangered by the emerging nationalist tendencies in many states. In an interview Schönborn called it "shameful" that there is no consensus on the important issue of dealing with refugees. He misses a common European solution.
My Testimonial for Flight-Stone 1
One of the most formative experiences for me was the arrival in Schruns on the Good Friday of 1951. After the expulsion from our Czech homeland and years of escape, in which we had always lived with relatives somewhere, we entered the apartment in Schruns and my mother said this sentence, which will always be remembered: "Now we have our own apartment". Schruns I associate with "home" to this day. I am very grateful for that. More than 68 million people worldwide are on the run today. The reasons and the situation of the people leaving their home have changed. But these people today need our solidarity and energetic support. The common commitment to peace is more essential than ever. I thank Alpine Peace Crossing for many valuable initiatives. Pursuing peace and reconciliation and working for those in need is also a central mission of Jesus Christ. The gospel is a great message of peace. So I wish that we all become even more "craftsmen" of peace and that people can find their homeland on the run.
Letter to Christoph Schönborn
Write a letter
You would like to write a letter to one of the honored persons or to the tree? Just write an email to office@alpinepeacecrossing.org!