Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockholm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Catholic Diocese of StockholmDioecesis Holmiensis Stockholms katolska stift |
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| Location | |
| Country |  Sweden |
| Metropolitan | Immediately Subject to the Holy See |
| Coordinates | 59°18′50″N 18°04′21″E / 59.31389°N 18.07250°E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 450,000 km2 (170,000 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2019) 10,290,832 122,000 ( 1.2%) |
| Parishes | 44 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | 29 June 1953 |
| Cathedral | Saint Eric's Cathedral |
| Secular priests | 158 |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Cardinal Anders Arborelius |
The Diocese of Stockholm (Latin: Dioecesis Holmiensis; Swedish: Stockholms katolska stift) is a special area of the Catholic Church in Sweden. It is the only Catholic diocese that has been set up in Sweden since the Protestant Reformation. This diocese does not belong to a larger church province. Instead, it works closely with other Catholic leaders in Nordic countries.
The diocese covers all of Sweden. It includes 44 local church communities called parishes. The main church for the diocese is Saint Eric's Cathedral. It is located in Sweden's capital city, Stockholm. Before the Reformation, many Catholic cathedrals existed. These churches are now part of the Church of Sweden.
The aid group Caritas Sweden is part of the Diocese of Stockholm. It helps people in need.
Contents
History of the Catholic Church in Sweden
Early Catholic Presence
Before the Reformation in Sweden, there were many Catholic dioceses in Sweden. These included areas like Linköping, Lund, and Skara. By the year 1550, the Catholic bishops in Sweden, including those in what is now Finland, no longer held their positions. After the Reformation, most of these church areas became part of the Church of Sweden.
Rebuilding the Church
In 1582, any Catholics still in Sweden were looked after by a special church leader in Cologne, Germany. Later, in 1622, a new group was formed to spread the Catholic faith. This group divided the world into missionary areas. Sweden became part of the area managed by a church leader in Poland.
In 1688, Sweden became part of a larger church area called the Apostolic Vicariate of the Nordic Missions. Bishops from Paderborn, Germany, helped manage this area. In 1781, this large area was split. The Apostolic Prefecture of Sweden was created. It covered Sweden and Finland.
Becoming a Diocese
On September 23, 1783, the Apostolic Prefecture of Sweden became the Apostolic Vicariate of Sweden. Its main office was in Stockholm. This new Vicariate was meant to have a special bishop, but the position was often empty until 1862. Over time, this Vicariate covered Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Finland became separate in 1809. Norway also became separate in stages, starting in 1834.
On June 29, 1953, the Apostolic Vicariate of Sweden was officially made into the Diocese of Stockholm. It was named after its main city. Around the same time, a similar change happened in Norway, creating the Diocese of Oslo. Two popes have visited the diocese: Pope John Paul II in June 1989 and Pope Francis in October/November 2016.
Catholic Community in Sweden
How Many Catholics?
In 2019, there were about 122,000 Catholics officially counted in the Diocese of Stockholm. This was about 1.2% of Sweden's total population of over 10 million people. However, it is thought that around 150,000 Catholics live in Sweden. These Catholics come from many different countries around the world.
Church Structure
The diocese has 44 parishes, which are local church communities. It also has 13 missions, which are smaller church groups. There are 159 priests working in the diocese. Some are diocesan priests, and others belong to religious orders. The diocese also has 31 deacons, 269 religious members (brothers and sisters), and 9 seminarians who are studying to become priests.
Leaders of the Diocese
Apostolic Vicars of Sweden (Before 1953)
- Nicolaus Oster (1783–1790)
- Rafael d'Ossery (1790–1795)
- Paolo Moretti (1795–1804)
- Jean Baptiste Gridaine (1805–1833)
- Jacob Laurentius Studach (1833–1873)
- Johan Georg Huber (1874–1886)
- Albert Bitter (1886–1922)
- Johannes Erik Müller, O.S.B. (1922–1953)
Bishops of Stockholm (Since 1953)
- Johannes Erik Müller, O.S.B. (1953–1957)
- Knut Ansgar Nelson, O.S.B. (1957–1962)
- John E. Taylor, O.M.I. (1962–1976)
- Hubertus Brandenburg (1977–1998)
- Cardinal Anders Arborelius, O.C.D. (1998–present)
Auxiliary Bishops
- William Kenney, C.P. (1987–2006), later became an Auxiliary Bishop in Birmingham, England.
See also
In Spanish: Diócesis de Estocolmo (católica) para niños
- List of Catholic dioceses in Europe
