His Excellency the Military Bishop of Austria
Msgr. Mag. theol. Christian WERNER

His Excellency Msgr. WERNER was born on December 27^th of 1943 in GOGOLIN SLASKI (diocese of OPOLE - UPPER SILESIA). He spent his childhood and youth in VIENNA, WHERE HE ALSO completed elementary and high school. After high school he graduated in June of 1962 and then he worked for one year as a counter clerk of the Austrian Post Authority.

In 1963 he served a compulsory one year tour in a high school company of the Austrian Army in SALZBURG/GLASENBACH. There he received training as reserve officer candidate. He spent three years training as a career officer and was commissioned as lieutenant of the troop service in September of 1967 in WIENER NEUSTADT. After he completed training, he was an educational officer for pupils of the military high school at the Theresian Military Academy in WIENER NEUSTADT. During this time he began to study theology - therefore he took leave from the Austrian Army to study in the college for Roman Catholic priests in SANKT PÖLTEN.

After completion of his studies he was ordained a diocesan priest on June 29^th of 1977 by bishop Dr. Franz ZAK for the diocese of SANKT PÖLTEN. After the ordination he served as a curate in the cathedral of WIENER NEUSTADT for three years. In 1980 he returned to the Austrian Army as military chaplain for the military command of NIEDERÖSTERREICH (LOWER AUSTRIA), located in SANKT PÖLTEN. From January 1^st of 1986 to June 30^th of 1992 he was chaplain at the Theresian Military Academy and for the garrison WIENER NEUSTADT. This position included also the rectorship of the cathedral of ST. GEORGE, which is the bishop's church of the military diocese in AUSTRIA and which is also a subsidiary church of the LATERAN CHURCH in ROME. During this period he was also made a Monsignore by Pope JOHN PAUL II. He taught at the Theresian Military Academy in the subject "Ethical Life Education" and he also taught catholic religion for the Theresian school battalion.

On January 9^th of 1992 Pope JOHN PAUL II appointed him titular bishop of ECA (ITALY) and coadjutor (bishop with the right of successorship) of the Austrian military diocese under the former military bishop + Dr. Alfred KOSTELECKY. Therefore he was consecrated as bishop on February 2^nd of 1992 by H. E. bishop Dr. KOSTELECKY, who appointed him vicar general of the Astrian military diocese on July 1^st of 1992 - so bishop WERNER was also the head of the ordinaraite of the military diocese (chief-of-chaplains).

On February 22^nd of 1994 bishop Dr. KOSTELECKY died and according to the canonical right of successorship of the coadjutor, bishop Msgr. WERNER automatically became the new military bishop of the Republic of AUSTRIA. Besides Pope JOHN PAUL II transferred him on October 11^th of 1997 from the titular diocese of ECA (ITALY) to the titular diocese of WIENER NEUSTADT (AUSTRIA). As bishop, Msgr. WERNER chose the following motto: CHRISTUS PAX NOSTRA (Christ is our peace!)

H. E. Msgr. WERNER received important medals:

1. Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für die Verdienste um die Republik ÖSTERREICH (April 30^th of 1990)

2. Goldenes Komturkreuz mit dem Stern des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um das Bundesland NIEDERÖSTERREICH (October 9^th of 1995)

3. Goldene Ehrennadel der Kameradschaft STALINGRAD (April 19^th of 1996)

4. Großes Ehrenzeichen des Deutschmeisterbundes (September 24^th of 1997)

5. Verdienstzeichen Erster Klasse in Ansehung seiner Verdienste um die Zusammenarbeit zwischen dem Österreichischen Bundesheer und der Ungarischen Landwehr insbesondere auf dem Gebiet der Militärseelsorge (April 18^th of 1998 in HUNGARY/VÁC).