# Christoph Schönborn

> Austrian Roman Catholic Archbishop of Vienna and Cardinal of the roman catholic church

**Wikidata**: [Q44747](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44747)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christoph_Schönborn)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/christoph-schonborn

## Summary
Christoph Schönborn is an Austrian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who has served as the Archbishop of Vienna. Born on January 22, 1945, he is also a theologian, writer, and university teacher recognized for his scholarly contributions and his leadership within one of Central Europe's most prominent Catholic archdioceses.

## Biography
- Born: January 22, 1945
- Nationality: Austria
- Education: University of Fribourg (Switzerland), Catholic University of Paris (France), University of Vienna (Austria), University of Paris (France)
- Known for: Serving as Archbishop of Vienna and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church; work as a theologian, writer, and university educator
- Employer(s): University of Vienna
- Field(s): Theology, Catholic Priesthood, Writing, University Teaching
- Memberships: European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Salzburg, Austria), Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas
- Awards: Honorary doctor of Babeș-Bolyai University, Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg, honorary doctor of the Palacký University Olomouc, honorary citizen of Vienna

## Contributions
Christoph Schönborn has contributed to theology and religious scholarship through his roles as a university teacher, writer, and Catholic priest. As Archbishop of Vienna and a Cardinal, he holds a senior leadership position within the Roman Catholic Church in Central Europe. He is a member of two significant academic institutions: the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, an international NGO based in Salzburg, Austria, founded on March 7, 1990; and the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, established in 1879 to promote Thomistic philosophy and theology. He has been recognized with honorary doctorates from Babeș-Bolyai University and Palacký University Olomouc (located in the Czech Republic), received the Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg, and was named an honorary citizen of Vienna — the highest decoration conferred by the city.

## FAQs

**What is Christoph Schönborn's role in the Catholic Church?**
He serves as the Archbishop of Vienna and is a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, placing him among the senior leadership of the Church in Central Europe.

**Where was Christoph Schönborn educated?**
He studied at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, the Catholic University of Paris in France, the University of Vienna in Austria, and the University of Paris, a historic French institution dating to approximately 1150.

**What academic and professional positions has Christoph Schönborn held?**
He has worked as a university teacher and is employed by the University of Vienna, a public research university founded in 1365. He is also a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.

**What honors and awards has Christoph Schönborn received?**
His honors include honorary doctorates from Babeș-Bolyai University and Palacký University Olomouc, the Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg, and the title of honorary citizen of Vienna.

**What are Christoph Schönborn's areas of professional work?**
In addition to his ecclesiastical responsibilities, he is recognized as a theologian, writer, and university teacher, contributing to religious scholarship and education across multiple European institutions.

## Why They Matter
Christoph Schönborn occupies a position of significant influence as both a spiritual leader and a scholar. As Archbishop of Vienna and a Cardinal, he guides one of the most historically important Catholic archdioceses in Europe, based in a capital city that serves as a hub for international diplomacy and culture. His dual engagement with theological academia — through teaching at the University of Vienna and membership in institutions like the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas — positions him as a figure who bridges religious authority and intellectual discourse. The breadth of his recognition, from honorary citizenship in Vienna to honorary doctorates at universities across Europe, reflects an impact that extends beyond the Church into broader cultural and academic spheres.

## Notable For
- **Archbishop of Vienna**: Leads a major Catholic archdiocese in Austria's capital, a city of global cultural and political importance.
- **Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church**: Holds one of the highest ranks in the Catholic hierarchy.
- **Theologian and Writer**: Contributes to religious and theological scholarship through published works and teaching.
- **University Teacher at the University of Vienna**: Affiliated with an institution founded in 1365 that enrolls over 93,000 students and ranks among the top universities in the German-speaking world (QS ranking 130 in 2024).
- **Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts**: Part of an international NGO in Salzburg, Austria, that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across science and the humanities.
- **Member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas**: Affiliated with a Vatican institution dedicated to Thomistic thought since 1879.
- **Honorary Citizen of Vienna**: Recipient of the highest honor the city of Vienna can bestow.
- **Multiple Honorary Doctorates**: Recognized by Babeș-Bolyai University and Palacký University Olomouc in the Czech Republic.
- **Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg**: A distinguished state-level award from one of Austria's nine federal states.

## Body

### Early Life and Identity
Christoph Schönborn was born on January 22, 1945. His full name is Christoph Maria Michael Hugo Damian Peter Adalbert, Count of Schönborn, with an alternate rendering of Christof Maria Michael Hugo Damien Peter Adalbert Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid. He is an Austrian citizen. His personal motto is recorded as "Vos autem dixi amicos," and his coat of arms is documented as "Coat of arms of Christoph Schönborn.svg."

### Ecclesiastical Career
Schönborn serves as the Archbishop of Vienna and as a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. This places him at the head of a significant archdiocese in Central Europe, located in Vienna — the capital of Austria, a federal parliamentary republic with a population of approximately 8.9 million as of 2022. Austria, which declared independence on November 12, 1918, following the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, is a landlocked country bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

### Education
Schönborn's academic formation spans multiple prestigious European institutions across four countries:

- **University of Fribourg**: Located in Fribourg, Switzerland, this university was founded in 1889.
- **Catholic University of Paris**: A private Catholic university in Paris, France, established in 1875, with approximately 750 employees.
- **University of Vienna**: A public research university in Vienna, Austria, founded on March 12, 1365, by Duke Rudolf IV and later supported by Albert III and Leopold III of Austria. It is one of the oldest universities in the German-speaking world, located at Universitätsring 1, 1010 Vienna (coordinates 48.2130556°N, 16.3597222°E). As of February 2017, the university enrolled 93,628 students. It ranks 151 in the QS World University Rankings for 2022 and 2023, improving to 130 in 2024, and placed between 84 and 86 in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities in the early 2000s. The university is a member of the European University Association, the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, and the European Open Science Cloud Association.
- **University of Paris**: A historic French university with origins around 1150, formally re-established in 1896, headquartered in Paris.

### Professional Roles
Schönborn's career encompasses four recognized occupations:

- **Catholic Priest**: An ordained priest of the Catholic Church.
- **Theologian**: A scholar engaged in the academic study of theology.
- **Writer**: An author who uses written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works.
- **University Teacher**: An educator at the university level, affiliated with the University of Vienna as an employer.

### Academic Memberships
Schönborn holds membership in two notable institutions:

- **European Academy of Sciences and Arts**: An international non-governmental organization headquartered in Salzburg, Austria, founded on March 7, 1990. It promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across scientific and artistic fields.
- **Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas**: A Vatican-affiliated academy established in 1879, dedicated to the study and promotion of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.

### Honors and Recognition
Schönborn has received several distinguished awards:

- **Honorary Doctor of Babeș-Bolyai University**: An honorary academic degree from a leading Romanian university.
- **Honorary Doctor of the Palacký University Olomouc**: An honorary degree from a Czech university located in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
- **Medal of Honor of the State of Vorarlberg**: A prestigious state decoration from Vorarlberg, one of Austria's nine federal states (Bundesländer), which also include Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vienna.
- **Honorary Citizen of Vienna**: The highest decoration awarded by the city of Vienna, recognizing individuals of exceptional civic distinction.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Schönborn maintains a Twitter account under the handle @KardinalWien. He is cataloged in numerous international library, academic, and authority systems, with key identifiers including:

- **ISNI**: 0000000122842434
- **VIAF**: 113232459
- **GND**: 115440305
- **Library of Congress (LCCN)**: n85239633
- **BNF (Bibliothèque nationale de France)**: 12028911x
- **IdRef (SU)**: 028457412
- **CiNii**: DA07520439
- **NLA Trove**: 52060909
- **ULAN**: 500289706
- **RKD**: 257558
- **PTBNP**: 1084
- **BNE**: XX1115665
- **NTA**: 077253957
- **SUDOC**: 028457412

Audio pronunciation of his name is available as "De-Christoph Kardinal Schönborn.ogg."

### Geographic and Institutional Context
Schönborn's work is rooted in Austria, a Central European nation with a "Very High" Human Development Index of 0.916 (2021), a nominal GDP of $480.4 billion (2021), and a Gini coefficient of 30.2 (2019). Austria is a member of the United Nations (since 1955), the European Union (since 1995), the World Trade Organization, the OECD, the Schengen Area, and the Eurozone (using the Euro since 1999). The country is divided into nine federal states and hosts numerous international organizations, including the UN Office in Vienna and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Vienna, as the capital, functions as a global cultural and political hub, home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Historic Centre of Vienna and the Schönbrunn Palace.

## References

1. [Source](http://polabskenoviny.cz/pordripsko/tomas-rychly-setkani-s-pani-eleonorou/)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Integrated Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. The Peerage
6. Catholic-Hierarchy.org
7. The Fine Art Archive
8. [Source](https://presse.vorarlberg.at/land/dist/vlk-65231.html)
9. [Source](https://www.kathpress.at/goto/meldung/2297368/lteste-hochschule-maehrens-zeichnet-kardinal-schoenborn-aus)
10. [Source](https://www.katholisch.at/aktuelles/150995/stadt-wien-macht-kardinal-schoenborn-zum-ehrenbuerger)
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. CiNii Research
13. [Source](http://www.past.va/content/past/en/academicians/honorary.html)
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. GeneaStar
16. Munzinger Personen
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. CONOR.SI
19. Goodreads
20. LIBRIS. 2012
21. Base de données des élites suisses
22. [Source](https://mix-n-match.toolforge.org/#/entry/63765594)
23. Sejm-Wielki.pl
24. HMML Authority File