On June 13, 2025, our Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele was bestowed a high honour: His Eminence Cardinal Dr. Christoph Schönborn OP awarded him the Knight’s Cross of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Sylvester.
For this occasion, numerous members of the Order’s government, led by Chancellor Dr. Stefan Schermeier and Vice Chancellors Michael Blaha, MSc and LAbg. a.D. Mag. Gerald Ebinger, as well as representatives of the Spiritual Council, Vicar General Yuriy Kolasa, Lic. theol., and Father Marek Pučalík, PhDr., also the President of the Dames, Baroness KommR Mag. Gabriela von Stimpfl-Abele, and Vice President Ulrike Günther, high-ranking representatives of Katholisch-Österreichische Landsmannschaften and Mittelschüler-Kartell-Verband, as well as family and friends, gathered at the Archbishop’s Palace in Vienna. The Procurator was particularly pleased to welcome H.E. Archbishop em. Dr. Stanislaus Hočevar SDB, accompanied by Commander Mag. Johannes J. Krmc, Knight of Honour Rector Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak and Member of the European Parliament Mag. Lukas Mandl, who had travelled a long way in order to participate.
In his laudation, H.E. Bishop em. DDr. Klaus Küng acknowledged the award recipient’s decades of service, beginning with a brief review of his childhood and youth: ‘Vinzenz grew up in a noble family steeped in the Christian faith. He was baptised by his uncle Leopold in Salzburg Cathedral. Father Leopold was a Salesian who worked in the Bavarian episcopal city of Eichstätt. He was an outstanding pastor, especially for young people. Through his association with him, a great love for St. Francis de Sales was awakened in Vinzenz. St. Francis de Sales, along with St. Vincent Ferrer, his patron saint, had a profound influence on him. He has also been president of the “Association of Friends of the Salesian Sisters” for years and is closely connected with the Venerable Sisters at Rennweg, where – as I was told – he usually attends Sunday services.’
The chairman of our Spiritual Council further reported that Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele began serving as an altar boy at the Aigen parish church at a very early age. Archduke Karl also lived in this parish at the time and often attended Holy Mass there with his family. ‘Through Vinzenz’s initiative, a parish youth group was formed there. He was just 16 at the time. That is characteristic of him: firmly rooted in his faith and committed, ‘ said Bishop Klaus.
A central element of the laudation was the commitment of our Procurator in and for the Order of St. George: ‘Vinzenz always says that for him faith is not just a grace, but above all a responsibility, a mission, and a duty. A very chivalrous approach! So it is not surprising that he found his way into the Order of St. George – the European Order of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine – which stands for so many things that are central and fundamental in his life. For over eight years now, he has led our community, which has almost a thousand members, as Procurator, in other words as the alter ego of Grand Master Archduke Karl. It was and is important to him that the Order of St. George not only does not allow the Christian element to fade into the background, but understands it as the foundation of its own community and of all of Europe. He does not see the Order of St. George in competition with the ecclesiastical orders, which he deeply respects, but rather as a complement. For, as not purely Catholic but Christian, the Order of St. George can and should develop into a force in which a unifying Christian spirit prevails and an overarching unity of values exists, helping to fight together, side by side, throughout Europe against the eightfold miseries and the excesses of the zeitgeist. In this regard, Vinzenz feels particularly encouraged by Cardinal Kurt Koch, who once clearly stated that unity is not simply a task we still somehow have to fulfill, but that it is the will of the Lord, and there is no alternative but to try to contribute to it with all our strength.’
The laudator also addressed the Interreligious Dialogue in Salzburg, which the Procurator initiated and which is taking place for the second time this year in cooperation with the Archdiocese. Through the constructive exchange between the highest-ranking representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, the Order of St. George would become, to some extent, a Christian communication platform and a bridge between the Abrahamic religions, His Excellency emphasised.
‘It is fitting that Vinzenz, wherever he holds a function or an honorary position, promotes the veneration of Blessed Emperor Karl, because his deep faith led to efforts for a fair peace between equals during the First World War, unfortunately without success. However, Blessed Emperor Karl could and should be an important role model for us, especially in the current state of society and in view of the brutal war of aggression raging in Europe.’
Bishop Klaus concluded with the words: ‘In this spirit, Vinzenz, as Procurator, guided the Order of St. George and also gave it a strong external profile. And he did this from the very beginning with prudence, a steady hand, and as a true role model for the Knights and Dames of the Order. His speeches, in which he addresses essential topics skillfully and at a high level without polarising, are always remarkable. His numerous publications, in which he regularly addresses hot-button sociopolitical issues and contrasts Christian-European values with the excesses of the zeitgeist and chivalric attitudes with social disorientation, are also noteworthy. His contributions inspire many people to reflect, even to delve deeper into the question of what faith can and should achieve in daily life. We are very grateful to him for all this and very pleased that, in recognition of his many achievements, he is being awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of St. Sylvester today!’
Cardinal Schönborn spontaneously added that St. Vincent Ferrer had been a Dominican, like himself, and then presented Baron von Stimpfl-Abele with the medal and the papal deed to great applause from those present.
Following the award ceremony, an Agape was scheduled and afterwards it was on the Landstein restaurant in the 3rd district, where the Delegation Niederösterreich – Wienerwald had invited guests to celebrate this prestigious honour. Head of Delegation, Dir. Günter Bergauer, MBA, and his Deputy, Matthias Dolenc, MA, welcomed the numerous Dames, Knights and guests, including our Procurator’s two nieces, Baronesses Sophie and Victoria von Stimpfl-Abele. Vice Chancellor Michael Blaha, MSc, then took the floor to express his sincere appreciation and thanks to the Procurator for his great merits on behalf of the Order Government and the entire Order, and also to offer a toast to congratulate him on the award.
Procurator Baron Vinzenz von Stimpfl-Abele commented: ‘Actually, I should thank my family, our Grand Master and you. Because my family gave me the right tools for this fight for our Christian-European values, which I will fight for as long as I live, and for that I will always be grateful. Archduke Karl entrusted me with the best army for this fight – the Order of St. George. This community has the right ideals; it cultivates and defends the deep, precious roots of our society and culture with united forces. So, in my view, this order, which I received today, is also, to some extent, an honour for the Order of St. George. Viribus Unitis!’
Afterwards, a glass was raised to the birthday of the Head of Delegation, and at his generous invitation the assembled guests celebrated with good food and fine drinks until after midnight.