As the doyen of the Diplomatic Corps in Austria, it is my honour today to thank you, dear Mayor, for your kind invitation to this festive reception and to express our best wishes to you, your spouse and your staff.

For us diplomats accredited in Austria, the city of Vienna is a temporary home where we can enjoy all the beauties, advantages and amenities of this wonderful city. Lovers of classical music as well as friends of literature and theatre will find what they are looking for in Vienna, as there is such a wide variety of events in the federal capital, which bear witness to a long tradition. Of course, there are also many other great offers in the fields of culture, science, sports, culinary delights and much more. Invitations to countless beautiful initiatives, which now reach us diplomats again day after day after the pandemic-related restrictions, bear witness to this.

Sehr verehrter, lieber Herr Bürgermeister!

Wir wünschen Ihnen weiterhin viel Weitsicht, Gelassenheit und Klugheit für Ihre wichtigen Aufgaben, gerade in diesen nicht leichten Zeiten, eine glückliche Hand bei der Wahrnehmung Ihrer Pflichten und Gottes Segen bei all Ihrem Tun zum Wohl aller Bürgerinnen und Bürger dieser Stadt und aller Menschen, die hier leben.

Vielen herzlichen Dank!

Greeting of the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Dr. Pedro López Quintana, Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps, on the occasion of the Reception of the Mayor of the Federal Capital Vienna Dr. Michael Ludwig for the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps on 12 September 2022 at 6 p.m. in the Arcade Courtyard of the Vienna City Hall

Es gilt das gesprochene Wort.