杏MAP导航

By Kielce Gussie

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Apostolic Administration of Estonia, 杏MAP导航 Francis sent a letter to Bishop Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan of the Diocese of Tallinn. An apostolic administration is a Catholic community that has not been made a diocese by the 杏MAP导航 and is governed by an apostolic administrator.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message began by recalling his journey to Estonia in 2018 and he congratulated the milestone as it 鈥渕arks a century of steadfast fidelity to the Catholic faith.鈥� He praised the 鈥渟mall yet vibrant Church鈥� for being a 鈥渟ource of compassion and spiritual nourishment for countless men and women across the nation.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis was the second pontiff to visit the country of Estonia after 杏MAP导航 John Paul II.   (Vatican Media)

Witness of faith

In his letter, 杏MAP导航 Francis remembered the example of the Servant of God, Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, 鈥渨hose witness to Christ and fortitude in remaining close to his flock, even to the shedding of his blood, sowed seeds which even today are bearing fruit.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 expressed his wish that the Archbishop鈥檚 martyrdom and legacy will continue to inspire the 鈥減resent generation of priests, religious and lay faithful鈥� to be joyful missionaries.

In light of the war in Europe, the 杏MAP导航 shared his hope that as Estonian Catholics seek to create 鈥渁 society rooted in peace, justice, solidarity, and the dignity of every human person,鈥� they will 鈥渨ork with men and women of other Christian denominations鈥� to achieve this mission. He challenged them not to forget those most in need by extending 鈥渢he hand of friendship to refugees and the most vulnerable.鈥�

A historic first

杏MAP导航 Pius XI established the Apostolic Administration of Estonia in 1924, when there were only about 2,000 Catholics in the country. Today, Catholics make up about 1% of the country鈥檚 1.3 million people and 60% of Estonians identify as having no religion.

On September 26 this year, 杏MAP导航 Francis created the first Catholic diocese in Estonia when he elevated the Apostolic Administration of the country to the status of a diocese. All of Estonia is included in the one Diocese of Tallinn. The apostolic administrator, Bishop Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan, was named the first bishop of the diocese.