Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
I am very pleased to inform you that Pope Francis has decided to elevate Apostolic Administration of Estonia to the Diocese of Tallinn, and to appoint me, a bishop of new diocese, Bishop of Tallinn.
This change marks a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church of Estonia. The Apostolic Administration of Estonia was essentially a transitional institution, created by the Holy See 100 years ago in 1924. The Estonian state was then very young and had only six years old and the Catholic community in Estonia was quite small. In these circumstances, the restoration of church life as an independent ecclesiastical structure was undoubtedly a great sign of faith and trust on the part of Pope Pius XI, and its temporary status was chosen - Apostolic Administration - an institution to be used in a region where the Church was just beginning its work.
Today, becoming a diocese testifies to the stabilisation of our ecclesial situation and is also a recognition by the Holy See of the pastoral and organisational maturity of the Estonian Catholic community. It means that the local Church has developed the human, material and spiritual resources necessary to fully assume the responsibilities of a diocese. In contrast to the Apostolic Administration, a diocese is a stable and permanent structure, equal to any other diocese in the world. Now it makes possible to structure the local Catholic community around the bishop in diocese who becomes the spiritual father and shepherd of the local church. Unlike the Apostolic Administration, where the bishop may be a temporary shepherd or even come from another diocese, a diocese allows for pastoral continuity, greater closeness to Catholics and a long-term vision for the spiritual and pastoral development of the community.
This change is also an acknowledgement of the growth and importance of the Estonian Catholic community in Estonia. It attracts more attention, support and cooperation with other dioceses in the world, as well as with the various structures of the universal Church. It will also give Catholics the Christian pride of belonging to their own Catholic Church in Estonia. And, also this should strengthen our spiritual and missionary spirit among people of God in Diocese of Tallinn.
Finally, this transformation may facilitate the development of new pastoral, social, educational and charitable projects. By becoming a diocese, the Church will acquire an autonomy that will allow it to respond better to the specific needs of the Estonian population, while remaining in communion with the universal Church.
The elevation of the Apostolic Administration of Estonia into the Diocese of Tallinn is not only a historic event of Estonian Catholicism, but above all a moment of grace and hope for us all. This transformation into a diocese is not only a recognition of our stability and development, but also an opening to new perspectives for spiritual and missionary growth. It is a crucial step in the reaffirmation of the faith and in the service of Catholics in Estonia. It is, without doubt Pope Francis' call to us of the responsibility that we may feel more and more each day that the Church is our own, our Mother and our family, whom we love and care for.
We thank God for the great gift we have been recieved. Every gift of God is also a responsibility for us, and every task of God brings in turn great grace, and for the glory of God, and for us, the people of the Land of Mary!
Dear brothers and sisters, let us entrust our new diocese to the care of the Servant of God Archbishop Eduard Profittlich who has worked so hard for it that our church becomes diocese, even though he did not get to see it with his own eyes during his life.
+ bishop Philippe Jourdan
Roman Catholic Bishop of Tallinn
P.S: Our new Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Georg Gänswein will officially announce the Pope's decision at the beginning of the Holy Mass in St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral, 29 September 2024.
On 2-3 November 2024, we will solemnly celebrate, as we had previously planned, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Estonian Apostolic Administration and we thank God for the elevation of Apostolic Administration to the new Diocese of Tallinn. A new phase in the history of the Estonian Catholic Church has now begun.