Cardinal Schönborn to represent Pope at Black Madonna chapel jubilee

Pope Leo XIV has turned to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., to represent him at major Marian anniversaries in Germany.

On 9 August, the Holy See announced the appointment of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna, as the Pope’s Special Envoy for the 350th anniversary of the dedication of the Chapel of the Black Madonna of St Mary at Kupfergasse, Cologne. The celebration will take place on Sunday, 14 September 2025, in the German archdiocese’s historic Marian shrine.

Earlier this year, Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship, was named Special Envoy for the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of Saint Anne to Breton farmer Yvon Nicolazic in 1623–1625. The Grand Pardon of Saint Anne, a centuries-old pilgrimage, will culminate in Vannes from 25 to 26 July 2025.

Both appointments show the Pope’s willingness to entrust delicate and symbolic assignments to figures known for doctrinal clarity and liturgical fidelity. Vatican observers note that Special Envoys often serve as the papal voice on the ground, delivering messages of unity and reaffirming the Church’s Marian devotion at key moments. Speaking to an anonymous Vatican source, a cleric said, “These are not ceremonial gestures, but targeted missions that signal the Holy Father’s confidence in their pastoral authority.”

Cardinals Sarah and Schönborn, both respected in traditionalist circles, combine theological depth with pastoral presence in a way that appeals to conservative Catholics worldwide. For Pope Leo XIV, such choices reinforce his stated aim of renewing the Church through continuity with her devotional heritage.

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