Profile of Archbishop of Vienna, one of the leading Papal contenders

(11 Apr 2005) SHOTLIST :

Vienna, Austria - April 3 2005
1. Wide of Saint Stephen's Cathedral camera tilts up
2. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, archbishop of Vienna, other bishops and priests, walking up to altar, UPSOUND organ music
3. Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn swinging incense burner during mass, UPSOUND organ music
4. Members of the Austrian government seated during mass
5. SOUNDBITE: (German) Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna:
"The passing of Pope John Paul II has led to a wave of condolences all over the world."
6. Wide of altar

Vienna, Austria - April 5, 2005
7. Sign indicating train for Rome, Vienna southern train station
8. Archbishop of Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn arriving at train station
9. Schoenborn getting onto night train
10. Schoenborn appearing at window,
11. UPSOUND: (Italian) Cardinal Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna: "Good evening, good evening."
12. Schoenborn at train window
13. Various of train departing

Rome, Italy - April 6, 2005
14. Exterior of Rome's Termini train station
15. Archbishop of Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn walking out of station
16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna:
"It's not the time to give interviews, it's the time to pray and say thanks to the great Holy Father for this great Pope and what he has given to us and to whole world." (Schoenborn is interrupted by nun, he greets her in Italian) "That's the moment now. To pray and to give thanks, to give thanks to God for what we have received from the Pope."
17. Archbishop of Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn walking along platform next to train, surrounded by media


STORYLINE:

The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, has often been mentioned as one of the leading contenders to be the next pope.

At 60 years old, he is the youngest of the major contenders.

He is multilingual, a scholar and he is respected by Jews, Muslims and Orthodox Christians.

Schoenborn refuses to comment publicly on his position as one of the favourites to succeed Pope John Paul II; friends say he would serve if chosen - but not eagerly.

Schoenborn has said he will not speak to the media until after a new pontiff has been elected.

He has attempted to maintain a low profile as leader of Austria's Roman Catholics, but that goal has not always been easy.

The austere, soft-spoken cardinal owed a key promotion ten years ago to a scandal involving his predecessor, Hans Groer, who was accused of abusing young boys.

Last year he had to confront a child pornography scandal in a rural diocese.

Ideologically, his tenure has been marked by a turn away from inner-church reform, disappointing Catholics looking for more rights for women or compromise on priesthood and marriage.

Instead he has focused on respect for Catholic dogma - while understanding those who fall by the wayside.

Born on January 22, 1945 into an aristocratic Bohemian family, Schoenborn's destiny appeared to have been influenced by his heritage - 19 of his
ancestors were priests, bishops or archbishops.

After joining the Dominican order in 1963, he was ordained into the priesthood in 1970 by Cardinal Franz Koenig.

Like most Austrians, Schoenborn idolised Koenig for his social engagement and courage to speak out on controversial issues. But Koenig's overwhelming personality initially eclipsed Schoenborn.


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