New Superintendent Appointed in Carinthia-East Tyrol

The Protestant Church A.B. in the Carinthia-East Tyrol Superintendency has appointed a new superintendent. Andrea Fiorella Mattioli was elected during the Carinthian Superintendential Assembly held in Villach on Saturday morning, as reported by the Protestant press service. Mattioli secured the necessary two-thirds majority in the second round of voting. Prior to her election, she served as a pastor in Zlan-Ferndorf, located in the Villach-Land district.

The election was prompted by the upcoming retirement of Superintendent Manfred Sauer at the end of the year. Alongside Mattioli, two other candidates were in the running: Peter Stockmann, a pastor from Spittal an der Drau, and Dagmar Wagner-Rauca, a pastor in Unterhaus-Millstätter See, also in the Spittal an der Drau district. Mattioli is set to take on her new role starting December 1, 2025.

In her vision for leadership, the new superintendent emphasizes the importance of faith and transparency. She expressed appreciation for the deeply rooted Protestantism in the communities, which has persevered through challenging times, and highlighted the invaluable contributions of numerous volunteers who actively engage with their congregations. According to Mattioli, the Church should not shy away from confronting difficulties such as declining membership and vacant pastoral positions but should instead embrace these challenges with a sense of faith and openness.

Mattioli, who is the first woman to hold this position in Carinthia-East Tyrol, aspires for the Church to be present in unexpected places, advocating for justice and supporting those facing oppression. She believes it is crucial to stand up for the marginalized and to act as a voice for the voiceless.

At 55 years old, Mattioli hails from Neckarsulm, Germany. Her previous roles include serving as a pastor in the Ludwigsburg area and as a holiday chaplain in Carinthia. Since 2019, she has been the acting pastor of the parish association in Zlan-Ferndorf. Additionally, she is a member of the board of the Evangelical Gustav-Adolf-Association in Austria, as well as a member of the A.B. Synod and the General Synod, where she contributes to the Theological Committee.

With her appointment, Mattioli becomes the third superintendent in the history of the Evangelical Church in Austria, following in the footsteps of Gertraud Knoll and Luise Müller. The Carinthia-East Tyrol Superintendency comprises around 42,000 members spread across 33 parishes.