Antje Jackelén facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend Antje Jackelén |
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|---|---|
| Archbishop Emerita of Uppsala Primate Emerita of Sweden |
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Jackelén in 2013
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| Church | Church of Sweden |
| Archdiocese | Uppsala |
| Elected | 15 October 2013 |
| Enthroned | 15 June 2014 |
| Predecessor | Anders Wejryd |
| Successor | Martin Modéus |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1980 |
| Consecration | 15 April 2007 by Anders Wejryd |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Antje Zöllner |
| Born | 4 June 1955 Herdecke, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany |
| Nationality | |
| Denomination | Lutheran |
| Spouse |
Heinz Jackelén
(m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
| Previous post | Bishop of Lund (2007–2014) |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto | Gud är större ("God is greater") |
| Coat of arms | [[File: |50px|Antje Jackelén's coat of arms|alt={{{coat_of_arms_alt}}}]] |
Antje Jackelén (born 4 June 1955) is a very important leader in the Church of Sweden. She was the Archbishop of Uppsala, which is the highest position in the Church of Sweden. She was also the first woman to ever hold this role. She is now known as the Archbishop Emerita, meaning she has retired from the position.
She was chosen as the 70th Archbishop of Uppsala on 15 October 2013. She officially started her role on 15 June 2014. This made her the first archbishop in Sweden who was born in another country since the 1100s. Before becoming archbishop, Antje Jackelén was a priest in the Church of Sweden, starting in 1980. She also earned a special degree called a Doctor of Theology in 1999. From 2007 to 2014, she served as the Bishop of Lund.
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Early Life and Career
Antje Jackelén was born on 4 June 1955 in a town called Herdecke in West Germany. She studied Lutheran theology, which is the study of religious faith, at two universities: the University of Tübingen and Uppsala University.
After becoming a priest, she worked in different church areas, called parishes, in Sweden. She served in the Diocese of Stockholm from 1981 to 1988. Then she moved to the Diocese of Lund and worked there from 1988 to 1996. After getting her doctorate, she also taught at Lund University and later at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in the United States. She was a professor who studied how religion and science can connect.
Becoming a Bishop
In 2006, Antje Jackelén was chosen to be the Bishop of Lund. She officially became a bishop on 15 April 2007. She was the third woman to become a bishop in the Church of Sweden. What made her special was that she was the first woman bishop chosen by a vote from the people in the diocese. The two women bishops before her were chosen by the Swedish government.
As a bishop, she chose a special motto: Gud är större, which means "God is greater." This motto came from a Bible verse. She also had a special coat of arms designed. It included symbols from her hometown and from the area she served as bishop.
While she was Bishop of Lund, she helped lead the state wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling in 2010. She also represented the Church of Sweden on an important international church council.
Becoming Archbishop
Antje Jackelén was elected Archbishop of Uppsala on 15 October 2013. She officially began her role on 15 June 2014. The King and Queen of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia of Sweden, were present at the ceremony.
In May 2015, she had an important meeting with Pope Francis in Rome. This was a historic moment because she was the first woman and archbishop to be welcomed by the Pope at the Vatican. Even though their churches have some differences, they agreed on many important topics. They talked about the need for science and religion to work together. They also discussed caring for people in need and the importance of churches in society. She met Pope Francis again in 2016 when he visited Sweden.
Antje Jackelén retired from her role as Archbishop. She officially stepped down during a church service on 30 October 2022.
Personal Life
Antje Jackelén is married to Heinz Jackelén, who is also a retired priest from Germany. They met when they were students at Uppsala University. They have two daughters and several grandchildren. Their family name, Jackelén, is thought to come from French-German ancestors.
Beliefs and Views
Antje Jackelén has written books about how science and religious faith can go together. She believes in the theory of evolution and thinks it does not conflict with believing in God.
During her election as archbishop, she shared her thoughts on some important religious topics. She explained that the idea of the virgin birth of Jesus is a special way to describe something unique and miraculous. She believes it's more about its spiritual meaning than a biological fact.
She also stated that she believes Christians, Muslims, and Jews all worship the same God. This view was both supported and debated within the church. She also supports same-sex marriage within the church.
Social and Environmental Views
Antje Jackelén has spoken about important social issues. She believes that religious influences should not be completely removed from public schools. She thinks it's important for children's spiritual growth.
She has also strongly supported action against climate change. With other bishops, she wrote letters in 2014 and 2019. These letters asked the Church of Sweden and the Swedish government to work on reducing greenhouse gases. They also called for international agreements to protect the environment. She believes the church has a role in helping people deal with worries about climate change. She is a big supporter of climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Awards and Recognition
In June 2017, Antje Jackelén received a special award called The Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism. This award was given to her by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It recognized her leadership in bringing different churches together and discussing important human and religious issues.
See also
In Spanish: Antje Jackelén para niños
