The Archdiocese of Vienna has confirmed that Archbishop Josef Grünwidl is in talks with Fr Toni Faber, the long-serving provost of St Stephen’s Cathedral, after Austrian media reports raised questions about the priest’s future.

Kathpress, the Austrian Catholic news agency, reported on May 14 that the Kronen Zeitung had carried a prominent story on a possible departure for Fr Faber as cathedral provost. Michael Prüller, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Vienna, told Kathpress that discussions between the cathedral provost and the archbishop were taking place, but added: “As long as there is no outcome, we cannot say anything more about it.”

Fr Faber, 64, is one of Austria’s best-known priests. He has been associated with St Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna’s landmark cathedral, since the late 1990s and has served as Dompfarrer since 1999. He was first appointed moderator of the cathedral parish in 1997 by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, then Archbishop of Vienna.

The latest speculation follows earlier comments by Archbishop Grünwidl about priestly celibacy and Fr Faber. In an interview with the Tiroler Tageszeitung published on April 5, the archbishop said he valued the prominent cathedral priest but saw a need for discussion regarding his approach to celibacy.

Catholic outlets subsequently reported that Archbishop Grünwidl had said Fr Faber had found “a solution” in relation to celibacy with which the archbishop found it difficult to agree, and that the two men were in conversation to find a solution. The archbishop also described celibacy as a “wonderful” or “great” way of life.

Austrian tabloid and magazine reports have linked the discussions to Fr Faber’s public profile, his comments on celibacy and his appearances at social events. The archdiocese, however, has not announced any decision about his future and has not confirmed a timetable for the conclusion of the talks.

Fr Faber has long been a high-profile figure in Austrian Catholic life, admired by some for his public visibility and criticised by others for the same reason. St Stephen’s Cathedral remains one of Austria’s most important churches and a major tourist attraction, and the role of its provost carries considerable pastoral and symbolic weight in the centre of Vienna.

The discussions come during the early months of Archbishop Grünwidl’s leadership of the Archdiocese of Vienna, following the long tenure of Cardinal Schönborn. For now, the archdiocese has said only that talks are continuing.