K. G. Hammar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Most Reverend Karl Gustav Hilding Hammar |
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| Archbishop Emeritus of Uppsala Primate Emeritus of Sweden |
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| Church | Church of Sweden |
| Archdiocese | Uppsala |
| Appointed | 1997 |
| In Office | 1997–2006 |
| Predecessor | Gunnar Weman |
| Successor | Anders Wejryd |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1965 |
| Consecration | 1992 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 February 1943 Hässleholm, Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Previous post | Bishop of Lund (1992–1997) |
| Alma mater | Lund University |
| Coat of arms |  |
Karl Gustav Hilding Hammar, known as K. G. Hammar, was born on February 18, 1943. He is a Swedish church leader. From 1997 to 2006, he was the Archbishop of Uppsala. This role made him the main leader, or primate, of the Church of Sweden. During his time as archbishop, he was a very talked-about figure. Some people strongly supported him, while others criticized him. He was in charge when the church and the government officially separated in Sweden on January 1, 2000. He has a PhD degree and has written several books about theology, which is the study of religious beliefs.
Becoming a Church Leader
K. G. Hammar's father was also a priest. K. G. Hammar became a priest himself in 1965. He was just 22 years old at the time. This happened in the Diocese of Lund.
From 1972 to 1975, he worked as a teacher. He taught at Trinity Theological College in Singapore. After that, he came back to Sweden. He worked as a priest in the Church of Sweden in Lund.
In 1992, he became a bishop. This meant he was the head of the diocese in Lund. Then, in 1997, he was chosen to be the Archbishop. The Swedish government, which was led by the Social Democrats, appointed him. At that time, the church was still officially connected to the state. Soon after becoming Archbishop, he made history. He consecrated Christina Odenberg. She was the first Swedish woman to become a bishop.
Views and Beliefs
As the head of the church, K. G. Hammar became very well-known. He was popular with many people, but also faced criticism. He had strong opinions that focused on humanism and tolerance. His supporters liked this approach. However, his critics felt he was too involved in politics. They thought he acted more like a left-wing politician than a church leader.
He spoke out for several causes. He wanted more amnesty for refugees and people without legal papers in Sweden. He also pushed for poor countries to have their debts reduced. He believed prisoners should be treated more kindly. He also promoted tolerance towards people of other religions.
Hammar also criticized the invasion of Iraq. He spoke against global capitalism. He even asked people to boycott goods from certain areas. Some political leaders disagreed with him. They said he should either stop using his church position for politics or resign.
K. G. Hammar strongly supports a group called the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly. This group wants to make the United Nations more democratic. They believe in creating a more fair international political system.
He also had modern views on religious topics. He often spoke about different ways of understanding religious stories. He also supported showing a controversial art exhibition. This exhibition, called Ecce Homo, was shown inside Uppsala Cathedral. It featured photos that re-imagined classic Christian themes in new ways.
Hammar's modern views sometimes caused debate. More traditional Christians had different opinions. For a while, the Church of Sweden's connections with the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion were strained. However, these relationships later returned to normal.
Hammar's religious ideas are part of a tradition called Christian mysticism. He has often said he is thankful for the writings of Dag Hammarskjöld. Hammarskjöld was a former U.N. Secretary-General. Hammar also admires the Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer.
Stepping Down
On August 25, 2005, K. G. Hammar announced his plans. He said he would leave his position as Archbishop in the summer of 2006. He mentioned personal reasons for his decision. However, he did not explain further.
K. G. Hammar's first wife passed away in 2007. He got married again in 2014. He has five adult children.
Images for kids
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K. G. Hammar's coat of arms
