The now-concluded year 2025 was the first full calendar year for the Diocese of Tallinn of the Roman Catholic Church after its elevation to a diocese. During this Jubilee Year, important for the whole Church, several noteworthy events took place in the life of our diocese.
The most significant of these events was undoubtedly the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich SJ in Tallinn. Having received the joyful news on December 18, 2024, that Pope Francis had granted permission for the beatification of Archbishop Profittlich, the first weeks of the year passed in anticipation of the Pope confirming the date on which the beatification would take place and who would serve as the papal representative at the ceremony. Soon this confirmation arrived, and we were able to announce that the beatification would take place on May 17 in Tallinn at Town Hall Square.
The organizing committee began its work actively. Unfortunately, on April 21 we received the sad news of the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and preparations related to beatifications were suspended worldwide. After the election of Pope Leo XIV, we awaited the new date he would set for the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich. Soon confirmation arrived regarding the new time and place of the beatification Mass.
The Beatification Mass took place in Tallinn at Freedom Square on September 6 and was presided over, as the Pope’s representative, by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn OP of Vienna. About twenty bishops and dozens of priests from various countries participated. A couple of thousand people attended the Mass on site, including relatives of Eduard Profittlich from Germany. Representing the state were the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Riigikogu, the Minister of the Interior, several members of parliament, and others; ambassadors accredited to Estonia were also present. The relic of Eduard Profittlich brought beside the altar at the Mass is the original of a letter he wrote in 1941, in which Eduard Profittlich informs his relatives that he decided to remain in Estonia and to obey God’s will in everything. The relic is now located in the crypt of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn in the chapel of Blessed Eduard Profittlich, which is open to visitors.
Original music was composed for the Beatification Mass (music by Mart Siimer, lyrics by Johanna Aus; the psalm by Margo Kõlar), performed by a choir and orchestra assembled for this event (conductor Pille Raitmaa, organists Mari Järvi and Mart Siimer). At the end of the Mass, an ecumenical prayer service was held for the souls of all those who perished in Russia, with the participation of EELC Archbishop Urmas Viilma and EOC Metropolitan Stefanus. The Mass was broadcast live on Estonian Television and was also transmitted in Poland and Germany.
In connection with the beatification, other public events also took place, including the reading aloud of the names of all victims of communism in the historic Dominican monastery on September 4–5 (the organization was led by Fr. Alain Arnould, prior of the Dominican Friary; the event was also broadcast live online), a concert by the chamber choir Voces Tallinn at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn on the evening of September 5, and a celebration for pilgrims in the courtyard of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn on September 6 after the Beatification Mass. At the same time, a presentation was held of a postage stamp issued by Omniva dedicated to Eduard Profittlich (designed by Riho Luuse and Sergei Minin).
In October, the Jubilee Year pilgrimage of Estonian Catholics to Rome took place. From October 21–24, about a couple hundred pilgrims visited important holy sites, including the basilicas of St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Paul, and St. Peter. Bishop Philippe Jourdan celebrated Masses in Estonian on October 21 in the Basilica of Santa Sabina, on October 22 in the Church of St. Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs, on October 23 in the Basilica of St. Paul, and on October 24 in St. Peter’s Basilica. The pilgrimage culminated on October 24 with a private audience with the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. The Pope delivered a greeting to the pilgrims, and after the joint prayer that followed, Bishop Philippe Jourdan presented the Pope with a gift from our diocese – a painting by Aapo Pukk of Blessed Archbishop Eduard Profittlich. (a reproduction of the gifted painting is on the cover of the diocese’s 2026 calendar)
In the crypt of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn, the Chapel and Museum of Blessed Eduard Profittlich was opened (it has been open to visitors since September 6), and in the spring, Postimees Publishing released a comprehensive work “Eduard Profittlich” compiled by Marge-Marie Paas.
During the year, several deacons and priests were added to the clergy of the diocese – all formed at the Diocesan Missionary Seminary Redemptoris Mater. In March, Manuel Leal Almeida and Giosuè Schirru were ordained deacons, both receiving priestly ordination at the beginning of October. Father Manuel serves as vicar in the Tartu parish and Father Giosuè in St. Peter and St. Paul’s parish in Tallinn. In November, seminarians Kiryl Arlionak and Marco Librasi were ordained deacons.
The 100th anniversary of the birth of Father Vello Salo was marked on November 5, beginning with a prayer for the soul and the lighting of candles at his grave at Metsakalmistu. This was followed by a Mass in memory of Father Vello in the chapel of Pirita convent, celebrated by Bishop Philippe Jourdan. After the Mass, a memorial evening was held at the same place, where Father Vello was remembered by his friends and companions. A month earlier, on October 3, Omniva issued a postage stamp in the series “Great Estonians” to mark the 100th anniversary of Father Vello Salo’s birth, designed by artist Triin Heimann.
The annual pilgrimage to Viru-Nigula took place on August 23. The theme of this year’s pilgrimage was “Mary – Mother of Hope.” At the beginning of May, Estonian Catholics participated in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s international pilgrimage in Lourdes, France, and at the beginning of August, a group of pilgrims traveled to Poland, along the route Bielsko-Biała–Częstochowa.
Some changes related to religious houses took place. The Congregation of St. Felix of Cantalice decided to close the convent in Ahtme, thus ending the activity of the Felician sisters in Estonia. Father Alain Arnould was confirmed as the superior of the Dominican Friars’ monastery in Tallinn, and Magdalena Nemcova as the superior of the convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate of St. Francis in Tartu.
On December 21, at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral of Tallinn, the consecration (i.e., dedication to God) of a widow – Tereza Meskina, who lives in Paide and works as a family doctor – took place for the first time. This is the fullness of the grace of the sacrament of marriage, in which the Church consecrates the life of a widow to God, recognizing her vocation to live in chastity, prayer, and service. The rite was carried out by Bishop Philippe Jourdan.
Austria priest Msgr. Leo Maasburg visited Estonia, who for many years was a close friend of Saint Mother Teresa, her spiritual director, translator, and confessor. In Estonian, Father Leo Maasburg’s book “Mother Teresa of Calcutta” has been published. On March 24, a discussion evening titled “Love in Action: How Small Acts Can Change Lives” took place at Theatrum’s Ait.
Several of the aforementioned and other events and activities in the diocese have been organized or co-organized by the Order of Malta. The Order’s activity is vigorous, and its membership also grew over the past year. A large number of volunteers are likewise involved in its work. In the autumn, in cooperation with the Estonian Banking Association, the Order launched a new volunteer program, Malta Shield, aimed at raising people’s awareness of phone and online scams.
Active work with children and youth takes place in the parishes; Sunday schools and musicians are active, and people in need are assisted. Caritas, the Tartu Catholic Education Centre, and St. Michael’s School in Tallinn are all very active. Media outlets frequently cover matters related to the Catholic Church; among them, on December 24, Kanal 2 broadcast live, with Estonian commentary, the Christmas Midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV from St. Peter’s Basilica.
An overview of the parishes and monasteries operating in the diocese, as well as its fields of work, can be found in the book “The Diocese of Tallinn of the Roman Catholic Church,” published in 2025.
Erik Salumäe
Photo: Vatican Media