Archbishop of Salzburg
Franz Lackner, O.F.M., was born on July 14, 1956, in Feldbach, in the Diocese of Graz-Seckau. In 1984, he entered the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), making his solemn profession on September 2, 1989. He pursued his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Vienna and in Dublin (Ireland). He was ordained a priest on June 23, 1991. That same year, he resumed his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy in 1997. Subsequently, he conducted a semester of research at the University of Bonn (Germany). In 1998, he was appointed Professor of Metaphysics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Antonianum. In 1999, he was elected Provincial Minister of the St. Bernardine of Siena Province (Vienna) of the Friars Minor. Since 1999, he has also served as a Professor of Philosophy in Heiligenkreuz. On October 23, 2002, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Balecio and Auxiliary Bishop of Graz-Seckau. He received episcopal ordination on December 8 of that same year.