Roman Catholicism in Iceland
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in Iceland is part of the Roman Catholic Church
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
. The current Bishop of the Diocese of Reykjavík is H.E.
Msgr.
Pierre Bürcher
. The diocese is not part of any ecclesiatical province (there is no archbishop or responsible archdiocese), and the bishop reports directly to the Holy See in Rome.
(1821-1895) and Jean-Baptiste Baudoin
(1831-1875) settled in Iceland in 1857 and 1858 respectively. They met with a difficult reception and in 1862, Bernard left the country, while Baudoin persevered until 1875. On August 17, 1869, Pope Pius IX set up Prefecture Apostolic of Denmark, to which Iceland passed. Freedom of worship was enacted in 1874. After an interval, Catholic missionary efforts were resumed, with church, school and even a hospital run by nuns by the turn of the century.
The former jurisdiction became a Vicariate Apostolic of Denmark on March 15, 1892. Thereafter, the island territory became for the Catholic Church an independent unit, first as the Prefecture Apostolic of Iceland on June 23, 1923 and then, not many years later, on June 6, 1929, as the Vicariate Apostolic of Iceland. It was on October 18, 1968 that this entity matured into the Diocese of Reykjavik
. Even though the Catholic population remains small as a percentage of the overall population and in absolute numbers, it grew from about 450 in 1950 to 5,590 in 2004, during which time the total population grew from 140,000 to 290,000.
was a Catholic. Although this did not last, his Catholic period is of importance due to his position in modern Icelandic literature. A more consistently Catholic writer in Icelandic was Jón Sveinsson
. He moved to France
at the age of 13 and became a Jesuit. He remained in the Society of Jesus
for the rest of his life. He was well liked as a children's book author (though he did not write in Icelandic) and he even appeared on a postage stamp there. In 1989, Pope John Paul II
visited Iceland.
, a predominantly Protestant country, comprises just under 2% of the population and is the third largest denomination in the country. The Diocese of Reykjavík
covers the whole of Iceland. There is a Christ the King Cathedral
(Dómkirkja Krists Konungs) in Reykjavík and a number of smaller churches and chapels in the larger towns. The Bishop of Reykjavík
participates in the Scandinavian Bishops Conference
. Many of the Catholics are Eastern European and Filipino immigrants; if they are excluded, Catholics are about 1% of the population (the figure before the immigrants started coming in large numbers).
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. The current Bishop of the Diocese of Reykjavík is H.E.
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
Msgr.
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Pierre Bürcher
Pierre Bürcher
Pierre Bürcher is a Swiss prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, currently serving as bishop of Diocese of Reykjavík, Iceland....
. The diocese is not part of any ecclesiatical province (there is no archbishop or responsible archdiocese), and the bishop reports directly to the Holy See in Rome.
Statistics
, there were 10,207 Catholics in Iceland,, with 6 diocesan priests, 9 religious order priests, and 38 sisters in religious orders.Catholic revival
The Catholic Church established on December 8, 1855 a jurisdiction under the name Prefecture Apostolic of the North Pole (Praefectura Apostolica Poli Arctici) that included Iceland. Several years later, the two French priests Bernard BernardBernard Bernard
Bernard Bernard was a French Catholic priest and missionary in Norway, Iceland and Scotland. He was the first Prefect Apostolic of Norway and Lapland from 1869 to 1887.-Life:...
(1821-1895) and Jean-Baptiste Baudoin
Jean-Baptiste Baudoin
Jean-Baptiste Baudoin was a French Catholic priest and missionary in Iceland.-Life:...
(1831-1875) settled in Iceland in 1857 and 1858 respectively. They met with a difficult reception and in 1862, Bernard left the country, while Baudoin persevered until 1875. On August 17, 1869, Pope Pius IX set up Prefecture Apostolic of Denmark, to which Iceland passed. Freedom of worship was enacted in 1874. After an interval, Catholic missionary efforts were resumed, with church, school and even a hospital run by nuns by the turn of the century.
The former jurisdiction became a Vicariate Apostolic of Denmark on March 15, 1892. Thereafter, the island territory became for the Catholic Church an independent unit, first as the Prefecture Apostolic of Iceland on June 23, 1923 and then, not many years later, on June 6, 1929, as the Vicariate Apostolic of Iceland. It was on October 18, 1968 that this entity matured into the Diocese of Reykjavik
Diocese of Reykjavík
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church which covers the whole of the country of Iceland, which had 10,207 Catholics on January 1, 2011...
. Even though the Catholic population remains small as a percentage of the overall population and in absolute numbers, it grew from about 450 in 1950 to 5,590 in 2004, during which time the total population grew from 140,000 to 290,000.
20th century
In the twentieth century Iceland had some notable, if at times temporary, converts to the Catholic faith. For a time Halldór LaxnessHalldór Laxness
Halldór Kiljan Laxness was a twentieth-century Icelandic writer. Throughout his career Laxness wrote poetry, newspaper articles, plays, travelogues, short stories, and novels...
was a Catholic. Although this did not last, his Catholic period is of importance due to his position in modern Icelandic literature. A more consistently Catholic writer in Icelandic was Jón Sveinsson
Jón Sveinsson
Jón "Nonni" Stefán Sveinsson was an Icelandic children's writer and member of the Society of Jesus....
. He moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the age of 13 and became a Jesuit. He remained in the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
for the rest of his life. He was well liked as a children's book author (though he did not write in Icelandic) and he even appeared on a postage stamp there. In 1989, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
visited Iceland.
21st century
The number of Catholics in IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, a predominantly Protestant country, comprises just under 2% of the population and is the third largest denomination in the country. The Diocese of Reykjavík
Diocese of Reykjavík
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church which covers the whole of the country of Iceland, which had 10,207 Catholics on January 1, 2011...
covers the whole of Iceland. There is a Christ the King Cathedral
Landakotskirkja
Landakotskirkja , formally named Basilika Krists konungs , is the cathedral of the Catholic Church in Iceland. It is often referred to as Kristskirkja . Landakotskirkja is located in the western part of Reykjavík, on the Landakot property. It has a distinctively flat top, as opposed to the standard...
(Dómkirkja Krists Konungs) in Reykjavík and a number of smaller churches and chapels in the larger towns. The Bishop of Reykjavík
Bishop of Reykjavik (Catholic)
-The Christianization of Iceland:The Norsemen who settled in Iceland from the end of the ninth century were pagans; and it was one of the functions of their chieftains, called goði, to conduct religious services...
participates in the Scandinavian Bishops Conference
Scandinavian Bishops Conference
The Scandinavian Bishops Conference is an episcopal conference of Roman Catholic bishops covering the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. At present, it has 12 members who represent all seven of the Catholic dioceses in the Nordic countries...
. Many of the Catholics are Eastern European and Filipino immigrants; if they are excluded, Catholics are about 1% of the population (the figure before the immigrants started coming in large numbers).
See also
- Diocese of ReykjavíkDiocese of ReykjavíkThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Reykjavík is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church which covers the whole of the country of Iceland, which had 10,207 Catholics on January 1, 2011...
- Bishop of Reykjavík (Catholic)Bishop of Reykjavik (Catholic)-The Christianization of Iceland:The Norsemen who settled in Iceland from the end of the ninth century were pagans; and it was one of the functions of their chieftains, called goði, to conduct religious services...
- Religion in IcelandReligion in IcelandReligion in Iceland was initially the Norse paganism that was a common belief among mediaeval Scandinavians until Christian conversion. Later, the nation became half-Christian and then more fully Christian. This increasing Christianization culminated in the Pietism period when non-Christian...
- Christ the King Cathedral, Reykjavík (Iceland)LandakotskirkjaLandakotskirkja , formally named Basilika Krists konungs , is the cathedral of the Catholic Church in Iceland. It is often referred to as Kristskirkja . Landakotskirkja is located in the western part of Reykjavík, on the Landakot property. It has a distinctively flat top, as opposed to the standard...