Toni Faber to Retire as Vienna Cathedral Priest

Toni Faber will step down as Vienna's Cathedral Parish Priest on August 31, 2027, following an agreement with Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.

Toni Faber, 64, will conclude his tenure as Vienna's Cathedral Parish Priest on August 31, 2027. The decision follows an agreement with Archbishop Josef Grünwidl, who requested Faber vacate his office upon reaching his 65th birthday on March 18, 2027, and completing 30 years of service. Papal Nuncio Pedro López Quintana reportedly advocated for the replacement of Faber, who has publicly called celibacy "completely overrated." Faber entered the Vienna Seminary in 1981 and served as a master of ceremonies and cathedral curate before Cardinal Christoph Schönborn appointed him provisional priest in 1997. Despite retiring, Faber plans to continue performing baptisms, weddings, and services. In November, he will move from his 5th-floor Curhaus apartment to a new 4th-floor residence at Stephansplatz.