Vitus Huonder
Vitus Huonder | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Chur | |
 Bishop Vitus Huonder, circa 2013 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| See | Chur |
| Appointed | 8 July 2007 |
| Installed | 8 September 2007 |
| Term ended | 20 May 2019 |
| Predecessor | Amédée Grab |
| Successor | Joseph Marie Bonnemain |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Chur (2007–2019) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 September 1971 by Johannes Anton Vonderach |
| Consecration | 8 September 2007 by Amédée Grab, Francesco Canalini, Kurt Koch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 April 1942 |
| Died | 3 April 2024 (aged 81) Wangs, Switzerland |
| Buried | International Seminary of Saint Pius X, Écône, Valais, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto | Instaurare Omnia in Christo (Restore all things in Christ) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Ordination history of Vitus Huonder | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Styles of Vitus Huonder | |
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Vitus Huonder (21 April 1942 – 3 April 2024) was a Swiss prelate of the Catholic Church. A Traditionalist Catholic, he served as Bishop of Chur from 2007 to 2019.
Biography
Vitus Huonder was born in Trun on 21 April 1942. He studied at the Pontifical Atheneum Saint Anselm and at the University of Fribourg, earning a licentiate in theology. He was ordained a priest of the diocese of Chur on 25 September 1971 and then continued his studies, earning a doctorate in theology in Fribourg. He became vicar general of Chur in 1998.[1]
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Chur on 8 July 2007.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on 8 September 2007 from Amédée Grab, his predecessor as bishop of Chur.[citation needed] His tenure proved controversial to some, as he reaffirmed orthodox Catholic doctrine in strong and uncompromising terms.[2][3]
Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 20 May 2019.[4] Huonder then chose to live out his retirement in an institute of the Society of Saint Pius X, with papal authorization, with the intention of living a quiet and prayerful life, celebrating the Tridentine Mass, and working for Sacred Tradition, the revitalization of which he saw as the only means of restoration of the Church.[5]
On 3 April 2024, Huonder died at the age of 81 in the Sancta Maria Institute in Wangs, following a serious illness.[6] His funeral Mass on 17 April was celebrated by Bishop Bernard Fellay, and Huonder was buried at the International Seminary of Saint Pius X in Écône next to the tomb of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.[7] Huonder's successor, Bishop Joseph Maria Bonnemain, attended the funeral, but did not take part in the celebration, due to the irregular canonical situation of the SSPX.[8]
References
- ^ a b "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.07.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "'Death to gays' Bishop of Chur retires". Swiss Info. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Retired Swiss bishop to live in SSPX home". La Croix International. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 20.05.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Joint communiqué of Bishop Huonder and Father Pagliarani". FSSPX.Actualités / FSSPX.News. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Im Herrn verstorben: emeritierter Bischof Vitus Huonder". Bistum Chur. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Funérailles de Mgr Vitus Huonder - Écône - 17 avril 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Coppen, Luke (17 April 2024). "Swiss bishop defends attending predecessor's SSPX funeral". The Pillar.
External links
- "Bishop Vitus Huonder". Catholic Hierarchy.
