By Rudolf Gehrig
Oslo, Norway, Jan 18, 2025 / 09:45 am
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, ordained a Norwegian prelate as the new Bishop of Oslo at St. Olav’s Cathedral on Saturday.
Frederik Hansen, who selected “Lex tua veritas” — Your law is truth — as his episcopal motto, succeeds Bishop Bernt Ivar Eidsvig CRSA in leading the increasingly diverse Catholic community within predominantly Lutheran Norway. The 45-year-old served in the Vatican’s diplomatic service under Parolin until 2022.
‘The first duty of a bishop’
In his sermon on Jan. 18, Parolin thanked Bishop Eidsvig, who had led the diocese for almost 20 years with his “generous service.”
The cardinal emphasized that “unceasing prayer and invocation of the Holy Spirit” constitute “the first duty of a bishop.”
“We cannot fully comprehend the enormity of His transforming power, but we can experience it in some measure if, like the Apostles, we remain open and docile to His action,” Parolin said.
Prelates from across Northern Europe attended the ordination, including bishops from all Nordic countries, Germany, and the United Kingdom. EWTN streamed the ordination in several languages, including German and Polish.
Welcome to the Journey of Bishop Frederik Hansen
Embark on the fascinating journey of Bishop Frederik Hansen, a man whose path from diplomat to diocesan leader is nothing short of inspiring. Born to Lutheran parents in Drammen, Norway in 1979, Hansen made the life-changing decision to convert to Catholicism at the young age of 20. After years of dedicated study and spiritual growth, he was ordained as a priest by then-Bishop Eidsvig.
Hansen’s journey to the priesthood took him through the hallowed halls of Rome and into the diplomatic service of the Holy See before he found his calling with the Sulpician order in 2022. Pope Francis recognized his unwavering dedication and appointed him as the coadjutor and eventual successor to Bishop Eidsvig in the previous year.
In a recent interview with the National Catholic Register, Hansen shared his insights on the multicultural nature of the Catholic Church in Scandinavia. He highlighted the diverse community at the cathedral parish in Oslo, where Sunday Masses are conducted in 11 different languages.
“We are the world Church on a local level,” Hansen remarked, underscoring the presence of Catholics from various backgrounds such as Polish, Lithuanian, Filipino, Vietnamese, African, and Latin American in the Nordic dioceses.
Embracing a Multicultural Church
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in his reflections on the Church in Norway, highlighted the enriching presence of Catholics from over 150 countries within the local church community. This vibrant tapestry of cultures and traditions embodies the essence of a truly universal Church.
Join us in celebrating the remarkable journey of Bishop Frederik Hansen as he leads the faithful in Oslo with compassion, wisdom, and a deep commitment to unity in diversity.
