Papal Quotes
From his childhood through today, the Popes have recognized the sanctity of Blessed Karl of Austria.
“I bless Archduke Karl, who will be the future Emperor of Austria and who will help lead his countries and people to great honor and many blessings— but this will not become obvious until after his death.”
Pope Blessed Pius X
“The decisive task of Christians consists in seeking, recognizing and following God’s will in all things. The Christian statesman, Karl of Austria, confronted this challenge every day. To his eyes, war appeared as ‘something appalling.’ Amid the tumult of the First World War, he strove to promote the peace initiative of my Predecessor, Benedict XV. From the beginning, the Emperor Karl conceived of his office as a holy service to his people. His chief concern was to follow the Christian vocation to holiness also in his political actions. For this reason, his thoughts turned to social assistance. May he be an example for all of us, especially for those who have political responsibilities in Europe today!”
Pope Saint John Paul II
“...Austria is known for its great openness to the universal mission of the Successor of Peter at the service of the dissemination of the Gospel of hope and of liberating faith in Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of humanity, who desires to give reconciliation, justice, and peace to every people.
[Austria’s] recently beatified compatriots, such as Franz Jägerstätter, Sr. Restituta Kafka, Ladislaus Batthyány-Strattman, and Karl of Austria, can open wider horizons to us. These Blesseds, on their different paths through life, placed themselves with the same dedication at the service of God and of his message of love for neighbor. Thus they remain for us guiding examples of faith and witnesses of understanding among peoples.”
Pope Benedict XVI
“Karl of Austria was first of all a good family father and as such a servant of life and peace. He used all his strength in pursuit of peace, at the cost of being misunderstood and mocked at. For this reason, too, he offers us an example for our times, and we can invoke him as an intercessor of peace for humanity.”
Pope Francis