Leaders of recognised religious communities in Austria met with Claudia Bauer, Austria’s Federal Minister for the EU, Integration and Family, at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna.
The Romanian Orthodox Church was represented by Fr Nicolae Dura, Vicar for Austria of the Archdiocese of Germany, Austria and Luxembourg, and Fr Emanuel Nuțu, Cultural Counsellor of the same Romanian diocese in the diaspora.
The gathering, now established as an Easter tradition at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, was preceded by a working discussion between representatives of the religious communities and the minister.
Government Support for Religious Education
Minister Claudia Bauer reaffirmed government support for confessional religious education in schools and underlined the importance of dialogue between the state and religious communities.
She expressed the conviction that Austria needs Churches and religious communities more than ever as “bridges of connection, models, and voices of reconciliation and hope.”
Addressing the religious representatives, she said, “You reach people where politics cannot reach. You have a voice that matters.”
Shared Responsibility for Peace
The minister stressed that what unites the different religions and Christian denominations is a shared trust in the meaning of life, the conviction that there exists a reality greater than man, and a common responsibility to work for peace.
The meeting highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Austrian state and religious communities, particularly in fostering dialogue, social cohesion and reconciliation.
Photo: Kathpress / Paul Wuthe
