County celebrates: Beatification of Eduard Profittlich is getting closer!

County celebrates: Beatification of Eduard Profittlich is getting closer!

A significant development for the Catholic Church in Estonia: the German Jesuit Eduard Profittlich was recognized as a martyr by the Vatican. Profittlich, born in 1890, who served as Apostolic Administrator in Estonia during his time, was arrested by the Soviet authorities in 1941 and sentenced to death. He died in prison on February 22, 1942 before the sentence could be carried out. This step is an important part of the beatification process, which has been ongoing since 2003 Catholic Press Agency reported.

Estonia receives new diocese

Meanwhile, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the newly appointed papal ambassador to the Baltic States, announced during his visit to Tallinn that the Apostolic Administration in Estonia will now be elevated to a diocese. This news marked a historic moment for the Catholic community, which had been waiting for this appointment for almost 100 years. Marge Paas, press secretary for the new diocese, said: “It is an act of God’s grace that we have received.” Bishop of Tallinn will be Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan, who has served as Apostolic Administrator since 2005 Catholic.de reported.

The appointment to the diocese will not only strengthen the structure of the Catholic Church in Estonia, but also promote hope for Profittlich's early beatification. Paas hopes that he will become patron of the new diocese, even if the official beatification is still pending. The Catholic community in Estonia numbers approximately 6,000 members and is particularly present in Tallinn and Tartu, where various faith promotion initiatives are implemented to not only support existing communities but also create new opportunities for faith.