Roman Catholic Prelate. Orphaned by the age of eight, Vienna born Franz Jáchym entered the Knabenseminar of Hollabrunn in 1931, later moving to that of Vienna. Ordained priest in July 1936, three months later he was appointed master of ceremonies and successively vicar cooperator of Purkersdorf. Injured during the Rosary demonstration of October 8, 1938, when the Hitler Youth stormed the archbishopric palace of Vienna, in December 1941 he graduated in theology from the University of Vienna, being appointed professor of moral theology at the latter in 1949. Elected coadjutor to the see of Vienna, then headed by Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, at the age of thirty eight, during his supposed episcopal consecration at St. Stephen's cathedral on April 23, 1950, Jáchym amused all those present when standing up, he addressed the assembly stating that he did not "feel worthy of such honor", leaving the cathedral where a car was waiting for him, which soon took him to his apartment. Canons of the cathedral chapter later testified that the purple robe, the biretta and the shoes where not even his, but had borrowed them from the chapter, therefore showing that he was firmly resolved not to stand for his consecration. With Pope Pius XII refusing to accept his decision, the consecration eventually took place 'sedi datus' in Rome on May 19, at the church of Santa Maria dell'Anima with the titular arhcbishopric see of Maronea. Secretary of the Austrian Bishops' Conference between 1952 and 1956, it is still not known with certainty what drove Jáchym to renounce his consecration in the first place, leading to numerous versions, varying severally from one another. Whatever the case was, he remained faithful to his office and to Innitzer's successor, Cardinal Franz König. During his tenure, he took over the building department of the archdiocese of Vienna, leaving a mark through the years, especially through the building of new churches and works of art. Dean of St. Stephen's cathedral and chancellor of the Catholic theological faculty of the University of Vienna, he resigned from office in 1983, spending his last months in Gumpendorf in an apartment in which Cardinal König would later spend his last years as well following his retirement. Always wanting to "die standing", the Archbishop passed away in the openness of a Christmas market in Vienna due to heart failure at the age of seventy four. The Franz-Jachym-Platz in Favoriten, Vienna, is named after him.