St. Leopold - prince and state symbol

Margrave Leopold III of Austria was canonized on 6 January 1485. The canonization process was by no means - as was already suspected at the time and is still sometimes assumed today - started for political reasons in order to promote Austria's reputation. Veneration of the pious margrave had already begun soon after his death, and it was only much later that it was officially promoted by the sovereigns.

There were two qualities that distinguished Margrave Leopold III above all other princes in the eyes of his contemporaries and established his reputation as a saint among the people: his peace policy and his social attitude. He used a large part of his wealth for ecclesiastical purposes with which social tasks were associated: The collegiate monastery of Klosterneuburg, founded in 1114, was to receive a large pilgrims' hospice, and the Cistercian monastery of Heiligenkreuz, founded in 1133, was to serve as a model agricultural enterprise to promote the development of the southern Vienna Woods.

The 1985 exhibition was dedicated to a single personality: Margrave Leopold III. It “differs from other provincial exhibitions in that this personality is not only presented in the context of his time, but in his centuries-spanning effectiveness. Leopold III is not just a historical figure, but also a living, effective presence as the patron saint of the province,” explained Floridus Röhrig, scientific director of the exhibition and responsible for the archive and library at Klosterneuburg Abbey.

This dual significance of Leopold was also reflected in the division of the exhibition into two parts. The first was the historical part, entitled “Who was St. Leopold?”. This part of the exhibition was housed in the medieval monastery building. The second part - “What does St. Leopold mean for Austria?” - was spatially separated in the baroque imperial wing: “The gigantic project of this building was intended to be a glorification of St. Leopold, a self-portrayal of the glory of the House of Austria at the tomb of the country's patron saint,” Floridus Röhrig formulated.

According to Governor Siegfried Ludwig, St. Leopold is also of great relevance and importance today: “A sense of solidarity with the people, foresight, honesty, a strong sense of social justice and an equally strong sense of family - these are timeless positive qualities and therefore also highly relevant for the country and especially for politics today.”

Gebhard Koberger, the provost of Klosterneuburg Abbey, also drew a line from the year 1485 to the present day: “We have to think about the person who is portrayed and about their work. So I believe that the portrayal of a saintly politician - as shown in this exhibition - makes us very thoughtful. What we need are politicians who act out of inner conviction; politicians who inspire confidence through their strong personality; politicians who can lead us through clear decisions. In this way, the portrayal of the actions and work of St. Leopold can give us much.”

Klosterneuburg Abbey