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The Most Reverend Bertil Werkström
Archbishop of Uppsala
Primate of Sweden
Church Church of Sweden
Archdiocese Uppsala
Appointed 1983
In Office 1983–1993
Predecessor Olof Sundby
Successor Gunnar Weman
Orders
Ordination 1954
Consecration 12 October 1975
by Olof Sundby
Rank Metropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Born (1928-06-09)9 June 1928
Lund, Sweden
Died 10 July 2010(2010-07-10) (aged 82)
Stockholm, Sweden
Nationality Swedish
Parents Gunnar Werkström
Ingar Hedenskog
Spouse Brita Caroli
Previous post Bishop of Härnösand (1975-1983)
Alma mater Lund University
Coat of arms

Bertil Werkström (born June 9, 1928 – died July 10, 2010) was a very important leader in the Church of Sweden. He served as the Archbishop of Uppsala from 1983 to 1993. The Archbishop of Uppsala is the main leader of the Church of Sweden.

Early Life and Studies

Bertil Werkström was born in Lund, Sweden. His parents were Gunnar Werkström and Ingar Hedenskog. He grew up in an area called Dalsland.

He went to Lund University to study theology. Theology is the study of religious faith and practice. He finished his studies in 1959. In 1963, he earned a special degree called a doctor of theology. This showed he had a deep understanding of religious topics.

In 1959, Bertil Werkström married Brita Caroli. She passed away in 2013.

Church Leadership and Beliefs

Bertil Werkström held several important roles in the church. From 1964 to 1970, he worked as a hospital priest in Sundsvall. He then became the head of Sköndalsinstitutet from 1970 to 1975.

In 1975, he was chosen to be the Bishop of Härnösand. A bishop is a senior leader in the church who oversees a specific region. He served as bishop until 1983.

Becoming Archbishop

In 1983, Bertil Werkström was elected Archbishop of Uppsala. This made him the top leader of the Church of Sweden. He held this important position for ten years, retiring in 1993. He passed away in 2010 after being ill for some time.

As Archbishop, he believed in bringing churches closer together. This idea is called ecumenical efforts. He also spoke out against Apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was an unfair system that separated people based on their race.

Working with Other Churches

Bertil Werkström played a key role in creating the Porvoo Communion. This is an agreement that connects Lutheran churches in Nordic and Baltic countries with Anglican churches in the British Isles. It means these churches recognize each other and work together. The agreement was signed in 1992 in Porvoo, Finland.

Visit to Rome

In 1991, Bertil Werkström visited Rome, Italy. He went there to celebrate a special anniversary with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope. They were marking 600 years since Bridget of Sweden was recognized as a saint. This visit showed his commitment to building bridges between different Christian traditions.

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