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; after his retirement he joined the Society of Saint Pius X.
Vitus Huonder | |
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Bishop Emeritus of Chur | |
Church | Catholic Church |
Diocese | Chur |
Appointed | 8 July 2007 |
Installed | 8 September 2007 |
Term ended | 20 May 2019 |
Predecessor | Amédée Grab |
Successor | Joseph Marie Bonnemain |
Orders | |
Ordination | 25 September 1971 by Johannes Anton Vonderach |
Consecration | 8 September 2007 by Amédée Grab, Francesco Canalini, Kurt Koch |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | 3 April 2024 Wangs, Switzerland | (aged 81)
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 |
Styles of Vitus Huonder | |
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Reference style | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Religious style | Bishop |
Vitus 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 he was buried at the International Seminary of Saint Pius X in Écône next to the tomb of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.[7]