Ecumenical delegation from Finland visits Rome

On 19 January 2024, Pope Francis received an ecumenical delegation from Finland in private audience. The visit was part of the annual pilgrimage to Rome for the feast of Saint Henrik, the patron saint of Finland. The group with Lutheran, Catholic, and Orthodox representatives was led by the Lutheran bishop of Porvoo, Rt. Rev. Bo-Göran Åstrand. The new Catholic Bishop of Helsinki, Mons. Raimo Goyarrola, who was ordained on 25 November 2023, was also present.

In his address, Pope Francis emphasised the ecumenical significance of the saints as "living witnesses" in the community of the baptised: "In the Eucharistic Liturgy, we pray to our heavenly Father in these words: ‘For you are praised in the company of your saints and, in crowning their merits, you crown your own gifts’ (Preface of Saints I). And the Augsburg Confession, in its 21st Article, states that ‘the saints should be remembered, to strengthen our faith, when we see how they received grace and how they were helped by faith; and to take example from their good works.’ (...) Dear brothers and sisters, you mentioned several great Nordic saints: Birgitta, Henrik and Olav. (...) If the millennium of Saint Olav’s death in 2030 can inspire and deepen our prayer for unity, and our journey together, this will prove a gift to the entire ecumenical movement."

At a meeting with Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the participants of the delegation discussed especially the current ecumenical situation in Finland and the common challenges in ethical issues.

The programme also included a Lutheran mass in the "Finnish Chapel" of the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, celebrated by Bishop

Bo-Göran Åstrand, and ecumenical vespers in the monastery church of Santa Brigida, presided by Cardinal Kurt Koch.

All meetings and celebrations were accompanied by an excellent choir of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Porvoo.

Participants in the private audience:

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
 

Bishop Bo-Göran Åstrand, Porvoo
Deaconess Karin Åstrand, spouse of Bishop Åstrand
Mrs Pia Bengts, Executive Secretary for Worship and Music, Diocese of Porvoo
Vicar Mari Puska, Mariehamn parish, Åland
Rev. Dr Kimmo Kääriäinen, Executive Director of the Department for International Relations
Pastor Lucas Snellman, Head of Unit, Communication, Church Centre for Work in Swedish

Catholic Church in Finland

Bishop Raimo Goyarrola, Helsinki
Father Martti Savijoki SCJ
Father Oskari Juurikkala
Father Leonard Wobila
Dr Emil Anton 

Orthodox Church of Finland

Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia
Ms Maria Mountraki, M.Th.

Guest

Sr Irenea O.Ss.S., Rome

DPCU

Cardinal Kurt Koch
Bishop Brian Farrell
Father Augustinus Sander OSB