Friedrich Gustav Piffl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Friedrich Gustav Piffl |
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| Cardinal, Archbishop of Vienna | |
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Vienna |
| Enthroned | 1 June 1913 |
| Reign ended | 21 April 1932 |
| Predecessor | Franz Xaver Nagl |
| Successor | Theodor Innitzer |
| Other posts | Cardinal-Priest of San Marco |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 8 January 1888 |
| Consecration | 1 June 1913 |
| Created Cardinal | 25 May 1914 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1864 Lanškroun Austrian Empire (Present day Czech Republic) |
| Died | 21 April 1932 (aged 67) Vienna Austria |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Friedrich Gustav Piffl |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Vienna |
Friedrich Gustav Piffl (born October 15, 1864 – died April 21, 1932) was an important leader in the Roman Catholic Church. He became a Cardinal and served as the Archbishop of Vienna.
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Who Was Friedrich Piffl?
Gustav Piffl was born in a town called Lanškroun. This town was in Bohemia, which was part of the Austrian Empire at the time. Today, this area is part of the Czech Republic. His father, Rudolf Piffl, worked as a bookseller and ran a shop.
Early Life and Education
As a young man, Gustav Piffl spent a year volunteering in the Austrian army. Later, he decided he wanted to become a priest. He went to a special college in Rome to study. In 1883, he joined a group of priests called Augustinian canons at Klosterneuburg Abbey in Austria. When he joined, he took the religious name Friedrich. He finished his studies in theology at the University of Vienna.
Becoming a Priest
Friedrich Piffl became a priest on January 8, 1888. After that, he worked in different churches in the Archdiocese of Vienna. He was the main priest at Klosterneuburg's abbey church until 1913. From 1907 to 1913, he also led the community there as its provost.
A Leader in the Church
On May 2, 1913, Pope Pius X chose Friedrich Piffl to be the Archbishop of Vienna. He was officially made Archbishop on June 1, 1913. A year later, on May 25, 1914, Pope Pius X made him a Cardinal. This meant he became a "Cardinal-Priest" of a church in Rome called S. Marco.
Important Papal Elections
As a Cardinal, Friedrich Piffl took part in two important conclaves. A conclave is a special meeting where Cardinals gather to elect a new Pope. He helped choose Pope Benedict XV in 1914 and Pope Pius XI in 1922. He also led the funeral service for Austria's Emperor Franz Josef.
Visiting the United States
In 1926, Cardinal Piffl traveled to the United States. He gave the opening speech at a big Catholic meeting in Chicago. He spoke in German during this event.
The Last Prince-Archbishop
Friedrich Piffl was not born into a noble family. His father was a book-binder, not an aristocrat. However, he received the special title of prince-archbishop of Vienna. He held this important position when the Austro-Hungarian Empire ended in 1918. When he passed away in Vienna in 1932 at 67 years old, he was the last person to hold this specific title.
