The Nordic countries — Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland — are among the least religious nations in the world.
While the Northern European nations have deep Catholic roots, Catholicism is a small minority in each country today, with migrants making up most of the Church.
For the first time ever, these five small Catholic communities have organized a joint pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the 2025 Jubilee.
Bishop Fredrik Hansen, Coadjutor Bishop of Oslo, Norway, was among the pilgrims.
“The church in the Nordic countries is small. We’re between 1, 2, 3 percent of the population, very much a migrant Church. But we are this minority and for a minority to be able to be together, and to be together within the context of the Universal Church matters a great deal. So, to be here in Rome is always a great experience for us, strengthening us in our faith and uniting us with the Universal Church and the Holy Father,” Bishop Hansen shared.
Over the span of three days, more than 1,000 Nordic pilgrims visited Rome’s holy sites and shared moments of prayer and reflection.
While each country had its own national and diocesan events, the whole group also came together to celebrate Mass in the papal basilicas and walk through the Holy Doors as one.
One such pilgrim from Norway Maksym Marek shared, “This experience has been… it’s very hard to explain! But it’s something that I will carry with me in my heart, spiritually, and hopefully one day be able to tell my grandchildren about. It’s really a beautiful experience to see so many people from Scandinavia come together, to pray together.”
Another pilgrim from Norway Rolf Skåra highlighted, “It’s amazing to be here and know that this is the place where the first Christians fought for their faith. And to feel inspired to also fight for your faith, that has meant a lot to me.”
The pilgrimage culminated in a private audience with the pope and a solemn Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.
For those from small parishes scattered across the North, this gathering has been a deeply meaningful experience, offering connection, encouragement, and a renewed sense of belonging.
Many of them have realized that, despite the distance that separates them, they are far from alone.
Sr. Pentecostés, a pilgrim from Iceland, noted “To see the unity of the Nordic countries and Scandinavia is very good, because we are very isolated in Iceland, we are few Catholics, and to meet other Catholics in the Nordic countries, it gives us hope.”
Even with the small numbers of Catholics in each country and their diverse backgrounds, this pilgrimage has undoubtedly been a powerful testament to the unity and oneness of the Church.
Bishop Erik Varden, Bishop of Trondheim, Norway, explained, “Our bishop’s conference is a Nordic conference. So, we’re quite remarkable in the Church in being a multinational conference comprising Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, and we would like to manifest the Oneness of our local Church in an extended sense, and it’s great that the faithful wanted to participate.”
Amid the many challenges posed by growing secularization, the Church in the Nordic countries is also a witness to the hope that defines the Holy Year.
Because of this — as the Nordic bishops emphasized in their homilies throughout the weekend — Nordic Catholics are called to share the truth of Christ with all those searching for meaning and struggling with hopelessness.
Cardinal Anders Arborelius, OCD, Bishop of Stockholm, Sweden, encouraged, “Let us pray for one another, that through this pilgrimage during the Jubilee Year, we may be strengthened in faith, hope, and love for Jesus Christ, so that we may bear credible witness to Him and His Church when we return home.”
Evangelization is undeniably a big part of the mission of the Church in the Nordic countries.
Through this pilgrimage, the Nordic pilgrims have once again been reminded of their role in bringing Christ’s light to those in need of hope and purpose.
Another pilgrim Peter Kuran shared, “It’s been wonderful to be a part of this pilgrimage, to deepen our faith, to understand more about what our faith actually means, that God became man for our sake, and not least remember our call and task to keep walking when we return home.”
Fr. Joseph Rizk, a pilgrim from Sweden, highlighted, “Especially now when we live in difficult times, we must remember that we carry this hope of our salvation, the salvation of the world, and just like Bishop Erik said in his homily, to remember that God saved this world, and that we are called to continue and be a part of this work of salvation, and to cooperate with God’s grace, and spread this hope, even if things seem impossible, because nothing is impossible for Christ.”
Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, Bishop of Helsinki, Finland, shared what the pilgrims will take back with them to Finland, “Now we are in Rome, bright sunny day. In winter, you know, in Finland, it’s very dark and cold. Hope is this warmth, this love of God, and I hope that we Finns, here in Rome, in two days we will come back to our beloved Finland, to bring this love and hope from the heart of the Church to Finland, and through Finland, to many, many countries, because the Church is One.”
Adapted by Jacob Stein
