Vitus Huonder (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Swiss Roman Catholic bishop (1942–2024)

His Excellency, The Most ReverendVitus Huonder
Bishop 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 1971by Johannes Anton Vonderach
Consecration 8 September 2007by Amédée Grab, Francesco Canalini, Kurt Koch
Personal details
Born (1942-04-21)21 April 1942Trun, Switzerland
Died 3 April 2024(2024-04-03) (aged 81)Wangs, Switzerland
Buried International Seminary of Saint Pius X, Écône, Valais, Switzerland
Nationality Swiss
Denomination Roman Catholic
Alma mater Pontifical Atheneum Saint Anselm, Rome, Italy University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
Motto Instaurare Omnia in Christo (Restore all things in Christ)
Coat of arms Vitus Huonder's coat of arms
Styles ofVitus Huonder
Reference style His Excellency The Most Reverend
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.

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]

  1. ^ a b "Rinunce e Nomine, 08.07.2007" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. ^ "'Death to gays' Bishop of Chur retires". Swiss Info. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Retired Swiss bishop to live in SSPX home". La Croix International. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 20.05.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Joint communiqué of Bishop Huonder and Father Pagliarani". FSSPX.Actualités / FSSPX.News. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Im Herrn verstorben: emeritierter Bischof Vitus Huonder". Bistum Chur. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  7. ^ Funérailles de Mgr Vitus Huonder - Écône - 17 avril 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded byAmédée Grab Bishop of Chur 2007–2019 Succeeded byJoseph Maria Bonnemain