On July 4, 2011, Otto von Habsburg, (born 1912) former head of the house of Habsburg died at 98 years of age. After 13 days of mourning among the nations of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire his body was buried in the Imperial Crypt under the Capuchin Church in Vienna where 145 other members of the royal house of Habsburg are buried. Since 1633 the crypt also entombs many Holy Roman Emperors and Austrian Emperors. His heart was buried separately, according to Habsburg tradition, in Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary.

Otto of Austria, as he was known, was the former Crown Prince (1916-1918) and is pretence, Emperor-King (from 1922) of Austria-Hungary and Bohemia, of Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galicia, Lodomeria and Illyria, and of Jerusalem etc. etc. These thrones are all defunct.

Otto was the eldest son of Charles I, the last Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, and of his wife, Zita of Bourbon-Parma. At his birth he was third in line to the thrones of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia. After 1918 he was forced to live in exile outside of Austria and Hungary until he renounced his claim to the throne.

Otto von Habsburg was laid in repose in the pilgrimage town of Mariazell, which for centuries was the most important pilgrimage town for the Roman Catholic House of Habsburg, and large parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The sarcophagus of Otto’s wife Regina, which was interred in her family crypt in Veste Heldburg in Germany in 2010 was brought to Vienna and laid in repose next to Otto and was buried with him in the Imperial Crypt.

The main funeral requiem mass was presided over by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Pope Benedict XVI’s personal representative in Vienna at St. Stephens church. A message from Pope Benedict XVI addressed to His Imperial Highness Archduke Karl of Austria was read by the papal nuncio, Archbishop Peter Zurbriggen. Many members of the royal family of the House of Habsburg attended the funeral along with dignitaries of the nations of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and Papal dignitaries.

Otto von Habsburg, who just called himself “Habsburg,” had a Roman Catholic vision for Europe and is considered to be one of the founders of the European Union along with Konrad Adenaur, Robert Shuman and Alcide de Gasperi, all of which have been greatly honored by the Roman Catholic Church for their work in reuniting Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was in power for as long as it was because of the House of Habsburg. Otto was deeply involved in the European Union almost up to his death.

“After the Second World War, Otto was Vice President (1957–1973) and President (1973–2004) of the International Paneuropean Union and served as a Member of the European Parliament.”

Otto played a central role in organizing the revolutions of Eastern European in 1989, as a co-initiator of the now famous “Pan-European Picnic” which helped to dismantle the communist parties of Eastern Europe and opened the way for those nations to join the European Union, which he strongly supported.

“His passing means the end of a link to an imperial and transnational past. He has also been described as ‘the last Emperor’ or ‘the last Habsburg.’”

The European Union is a project by which Otto von Habsburg and other political leaders intended to resurrect the Holy Roman Empire under the Roman Catholic Church. Otto worked tirelessly to build the European Union and resurrect the Holy Roman Empire.

“European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said, ‘with Otto von Habsburg, a great European has left us who gave an important impetus to the European project throughout his rich life… He kept the flame of hope for the reunification of Europe alive when many others had given up. I will never forget the moment when the Paneuropean Picnic, which Otto von Habsburg organised on 19 August 1989 at the Austro-Hungarian border, cut the first holes in that Iron Curtain of shame.’”

“The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek stated: ‘This morning, a European giant passed away… In the darkest hours of our continent, Otto von Habsburg has been a rock of truth and humanity… He kept the flame of hope for the reunification of Europe alive when many others had given up. I will never forget the moment when the Paneuropean Picnic, which Otto von Habsburg organised on 19 August 1989 at the Austro-Hungarian border, cut the first holes in that Iron Curtain of shame.”

“Pope Benedict XVI praised Otto von Habsburg as ‘a great European’ who had worked tirelessly for peace, the coexistence of peoples and a just order (Roman Catholic) in Europe.”

“Cardinal Renato Martino remembered Otto as one of the twentieth century’s “greatest defenders” of the Catholic faith and human dignity, stating that his father, “Blessed Karl of Austria,” instilled in him from an early age that the office of a ruler is one of holy service and selfless sacrifice for the good of the peoples entrusted to him.”

“Holy service” mean in the support and defense of the Roman Catholic faith and principles. Note that his father Charles (or Karl) of Austria is on his way to sainthood.

Otto, who had many royal titles, once said “The [European] Community is living largely by the heritage of the Holy Roman Empire, though the great majority of the people who live by it don’t know by what heritage they live.”

It remains to be seen what the church will do to honor one of their most appreciated politicians. His eldest son Charles (Karl) becomes the head of the House of Habsburg.

Source: Keep the Faith Ministry. Emphases added.