St. Francis of Assisi Church

The Parish Church of St. Francis of Assisi, also known as the Imperial Jubilee Church and popularly as Mexico Church, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt area. The church, which is located in Mexico Square, was built in 1910.The parish is under the authority of the Vienna City Vicariate, especially dean’s office 2/20, and is administered by the Archdiocese of Vienna.This church is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.

History

Prompt settlement followed the purchase of fresh land as a result of the first Viennese control of the Danube between 1870 and 1875. However, the region lacked a church and parish of its own and was temporarily administered by the parish of Praterstraße.On March 19, 1898, a committee was formed with the goal of building a large and inclusive church beside the Danube.The venerated monument was to be funded by contributions and dedicated in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Josef I’s reign.

In the presence of the Emperor and a congregation of approximately 100,000 people, Prince Archbishop Cardinal Anton Josef Gruscha lay the foundation stone on June 10, 1900. August Kirstein, the projected master builder, took over the construction after architect Victor Luntz died in 1903.Due to funding constraints, construction work has been slowed.The capstone was laid on June 10, 1910.The Jubilee Church was officially inaugurated on November 2, 1913, in the presence of Emperor Franz Josef I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Mayor Richard Weiskirchner, and Prince Carlos Clary and Aldringen (1844-1920), who served as the Church Building Committee’s President.The church’s construction was halted during the First World conflict and then started after the conflict ended.The external appearance of the Kaiserjubiläumskirche has remained mostly unchanged until the current day.Initially, the wooden covering put at the three main entrances was intended to be a temporary remedy for the inaugural event. It has, nevertheless, stayed in place till the present.

The building of the “Parish Donaustadt” was permitted in 1928, retrospectively effective from July 1, 1921, and the church was awarded parish church status.Because of its position, which is primarily encircled by the Danube, the Northern Railway, and the new Albrechts- and Wilhelmkasernen, the Parish of Donaustadt was recognized as the new Donaustadt. This neighborhood should not be confused with today’s 22nd district of Vienna, also known as Donaustadt, which is located on the opposite side of the Danube.

Location and Surroundings

The square was known as Erzherzog-Karl-Platz during construction, while the neighboring two-lane Danube bridge, which also functioned as a tramway route, was known as Kronprinz-Rudolph-Bridge.The chapel is presently positioned next to Mexico Park, which is a component of Mexico Square.The square formerly known as Archduke Karl Square was formally renamed Mexico Square in 1956.An explanatory plaque on a memorial stone in front of the chapel recalls Mexico’s unique position as the only country to openly protest to the forceful annexation of Austria into the National Socialist German Reich before the League of Nations in March 1938.In recognition of this event, the city of Vienna renamed this square Mexico Square.

The church is easily accessible from the Vorgartenstrasse station on the U1 underground line. The Donauinsel station is suggested for people seeking to access it via the bridge.

Architecture

The church was built to a design by famous architect Victor Luntz (1840-1903), who won the project in a competition. The structure was created in the Rhenish-Romanesque style, and its placement on the river was carefully examined, drawing influence from the Groß St. Martin church in Cologne.The likeness to Dresden’s garrison chapel of St. Martin is striking.The basilical brick structure, which consists of four bays, was initially meant to be massive and intimidating as a garrison church. This proposal, however, was eventually abandoned. The three massive towers are noticeable from afar and are embellished with scarlet roofing tiles.The church towers are 73 meters tall and 76 meters long combined.

Amenities

Two paintings by the renowned Italian artist Ettore Gualdini of Frosinone (1931-2010) are located on the inside of the western wall, precisely the southwestern wall due to the church’s orientation.The Trinitarian Order commissioned two pieces, each measuring 160 230 cm and painted on canvas with oil.The artwork in the right aisle depicts the Annunciation, whilst the artwork in the left aisle depicts the blessed Elisabetta Canori Mora in conjunction with the Elisabeth Chapel. For more information, please see the material provided below.The subject is referred to as “Beata Isabel Canori Mora” (1774-1825) in Gualdini’s catalog raisonné, who was a wife, mother, and tertiary of the Trinitarian order. She is regarded as the best exemplar of a mystical existence and a martyr of true love in married life.

A 180 200 cm oil work by Viennese painter Lotte Berger (b. 1938) is located on the left side wall of the chancel. On canvas, the artwork portrays a Madonna wearing a protective mantle.

Vienna, Austria