Pope Leo Picks Pro–Women’s Ordination Priest to Lead One of the Church’s Most Influential Dioceses

Josef Grünwidl’s appointment to Vienna is Leo XIV’s clearest signal yet: diversity of thought is welcome at the top.

Pope Leo XIV has made his most significant appointment to date by naming Father Josef Grünwidl as the new Archbishop of Vienna — a prominent post traditionally held by a cardinal.

This is the first cardinalatial see that Leo has filled, and it’s a striking choice.

Grünwidl, 62, isn’t a typical candidate for such a high office.

A native of Lower Austria …