Vitus Huonder was born in
Trun on 21 April 1942. He studied at the Pontifical Atheneum Saint Anselm and at the University of Fribourg, earning a licentiate in theology. He was ordained a priest of the diocese of Chur on 25 September 1971 and then continued his studies, earning a doctorate in theology in Fribourg. He became vicar general of Chur in 1998. He received his episcopal consecration on 8 September 2007 from
Amédée Grab, his predecessor as bishop of Chur. His tenure proved controversial to some, as he reaffirmed Catholic doctrine in strong and uncompromising terms..
Pope Francis accepted his resignation on 20 May 2019. Huonder then chose to live out his retirement in an institute of the
Society of Saint Pius X, with papal authorization, with the intention of living a quiet and prayerful life, celebrating the
Tridentine Mass, and working for the revitalization of
Sacred Tradition, which he saw as the only means of restoration of the Church. On 3 April 2024, Huonder died at the age of 81 in the Sancta Maria Institute in
Wangs, following a serious illness. His funeral Mass on 17 April was celebrated by Bishop
Bernard Fellay, and Huonder was buried at the
International Seminary of Saint Pius X in
Écône next to the tomb of Archbishop
Marcel Lefebvre. Huonder's successor, Bishop
Joseph Maria Bonnemain, attended the funeral, but did not take part in the celebration, due to the irregular canonical situation of the SSPX. ==References==