Andrea Fiorella Mattioli becomes the new superintendent of the Evangelical Church in Carinthia-East Tyrol. The previous pastor in Zlan-Ferndorf was elected on Saturday, April 26, by the delegates of the Carinthian superintendial assembly in Villach in the 2nd ballot with the necessary two-thirds majority. 58 out of 81 (with 1 invalid) votes accounted for Mattioli, 18 on Pastor Peter Stockmann (Spittal an der Drau, and 4 votes on Pastor Dagmar Wagner-Ruca (Unterhaus-Millstätter See), who also made up for the election.
The choice of a new superintendent was necessary because superintendent Manfred Sauer will retire at the end of the year. The new superintendent will compete on 1/11/2025.
“I take the choice and thank everyone for the trust,” said Andrea Fiorella Mattioli. They appreciate the “deeply rooted Protestantism in the communities”, which has been preserved and proven themselves over difficult times and the many volunteers who identify with their parish, commit and “move a lot”. When asked what she particularly qualified for this office, Mattioli, the “love of people and curiosity about what moves and drives”, but also “interest in children and young people and what they have to say” as well as, among other points, “a faith that is grounded and in person in person”.
“Wish that church is present where you don’t expect it”
“As a foundation of our Church, our communities are places of the lively faith and the encounter, where people find comfort and strength, directions and community with God and with each other,” said the designated superintendent. The church should not shy away from challenges such as falling membership and not occupied parish offices, but: “We accept these processes and shape them together with trust and transparency.” Before the election assembly, Mattioli spoke of the “freedom of faith we live from”. “I hope that we are traveling together and that this freedom of faith lives,” says the designated superintendent, who is as important as “to give the Evangelical Church in Carinthia”. Mattioli dreams of “that the church is also present where you don’t expect it to be a corrective with the message of Jesus Christ, where people are suppressed and there is injustice”. It is important to “take up and stand up for all of them”.
Blessing requests from superintendent and bishop
“I am very pleased that for the first time in the history of our Evangelical Church in Carinthia and East Tyrol, Andrea Mattioli has conquered the hearts of the delegates with her warm and sensitive manner, but she also convinced with her theological and pastoral competence,” said the acting superintendent Manfred Sauer to the Evangelical Press Service. “With her style and talents, Andrea Mattioli will bring about and move a lot of positive and beneficial things, I wish God’s rich blessings,” said the superintendent.
Bishop Michael Chalupka, who had traveled from Vienna for election in Villach, also delivered happiness and blessings on the part of the overall Austrian church leadership. All three candidates are “deeply inculturated and rooted in Carinthia, although they were not born here,” the bishop told the Evangelical Press Service. Andrea Mattioli tries up hope, but also have a lot of experience in the regional area. In doing so, she distinguishes her “positive will” to “promote and challenge community,” said the bishop. At the same time, the bishop was also pleased that Andrea Mattioli is the first superintendent in Carinthia and that “a woman has been elected to the superintendent for a long time”.
Superintendial curator Prinz-Büchl: strong effect inside and out
The choice was led by superintential curator Margarete Prinz-Büchl, who is at the top of the diocese with the superintendent. She expects Andrea Mattioli as the first Carinthian superintendent to have a strong appearance inwards and outside. “They do not frighten the current challenges,” confirmed Prinz-Büchl, who also attests to the new superintendent that she would strengthen the “Carinthian voice” in the entire church.
Andrea Fiorella Mattioli (55) comes from Neckarsulm in Germany. She worked as a pastor in the Ludwigsburg area and as a holiday chaplain in Carinthia, and since 2019 she has been a pastor of the parish association Zlan-Ferndorf. Mattioli belongs to the board of the Evangelical Gustav Adolf Association Austria as well as the synod and the General Synod, where it also works in the theological committee. After Gertraud Knoll and Luise Müller, Andrea Mattioli is the third superintendent in the history of the Evangelical Church in Austria.
The superintendent is chosen by the superintendial assembly, in which over 90 delegates of all municipalities are represented by Carinthia East Tyrol, for a period of twelve years with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The office corresponds to that of the diocesan bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. One of the tasks of the superintendent is the spiritual leadership of the diocese. He or she has the supervision of the church orders and the written proclamation. The episcopal right include the ordination of pastors: inside and the visitation of parishes.
The Evangelical Superintend Kärnten-Easttirol has around 42,000 members in 33 parishes.