Austria reports at least 26 priest ordinations in 2025—highest in a decade—while Germany faces historic lows in new vocations.
Newsroom, July 15, 2025, Gaudium Press – The country Austria has seen an increase in vocations and ordinations to the priesthood, contrasting with what the Catholic Church in Germany is experiencing. A recent survey conducted across Austrian dioceses and priestly formation institutions revealed a positive trend in priestly vocations this year in Austria.
At least 26 men will be ordained Catholic priests this year 2025, although the final number may be higher, since not all religious order ordinations have been announced.
This year’s number of priestly ordinations in the country is significantly higher than the decade-long average of approximately 22 per year. In 2023, only 20 priests were ordained. The official figure for 2024 ordinations will be released in September.
Rejuvenation of priestly vocations
Another notable fact is the age of candidates. In previous years, new priests were aged 35 or older. This year, half of the candidates are between 27 and 31 years old — showing a rejuvenation of priestly vocations.
Additionally, in 2025, more than half of the candidates (14) were born in Austria—more than double the number in 2024, when there were only six. The other new priests ordained this year in Austria come from Germany (5), Nigeria (3), Slovakia (1), Poland (1), Spain (1), and India (1).
Germany records decline in priestly vocations
Austria’s trend is the opposite of what is happening in Germany, where new vocations are falling. In 2024 Germany recorded a historic low of 29 ordinations; in 2022 there were 45, and in 2020 the number was 58. Eleven of Germany’s 27 dioceses had no ordinations in 2024, and very few are expected this year.
Compiled by Adele Wong.
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