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 | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Biography
editVitus 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
edit- ^ 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
edit- "Bishop Vitus Huonder". Catholic Hierarchy.
