On June 16, 2020 in Shrine of Mariazell, Austria an archbishop of Salzburg Franz Lackner was elected a new president of Austrian bishops’ conference. On this occasion, His Beatitude Sviatoslav sent a greeting letter to a new head of Austrian episcopate.
In his letter Head of the UGCC expressed the belief that with a new head an Austrian bishops’ conference will carry on conducting its important mission, “especially regarding the life of Church and Austrian society, bearing the Gospel and the light of our Lord Jesus Christ to all citizens”. The UGCC Department for Information report.
With all due respect, His Beatitude Sviatoslav also thanked the predecessor of bishop Lackner, cardinal Schönborn, the archbishop of Vienna and an ordinariate for the faithful of Eastern rite in this country for “rich engagement, pastoral care and support given to our faithful and priests in Austria”.
Besides, Head and Father of the UGCC is aware of the consideration given by a new president of Austrian episcopate, which he demonstrates with regard to the faithful of Oriental Catholic Churches located within Salzburg.
“The vicar general Fr. Yuriy Kolasa told me that you, Your Excellency, being a bishop always show a deep understanding, care and support the needs of priests and faithful who belong to Oriental Catholic Churches and live on the territory of your archeparchy. Even more, an archeparchy has established a byzantine center, where services are conducted in German. I am especially grateful for your participation in celebrations of 120th anniversary in Innsbruck in November, 2019, where I had an opportunity to meet you personally”, wrote Head of the UGCC.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav invited the president of Austrian bishops’ conference to visit Ukraine and wished bishop Franz Lackner, his co-workers and all faithful who are entrusted to his pastoral care, an abundant grace of God through the intercession of the Mother of God to accomplish a Church mission in Austria.