On Saturday, January 18, 2025, 45-year-old Father Fredrik Hansen was ordained bishop in St. Olav’s Cathedral in Oslo. Pope Francis had appointed him coadjutor bishop of Oslo late last year. The current bishop of Oslo, Bernt Eidsvig Can.reg., is expected to retire early due to health reasons, possibly as soon as this spring.
Monsignor Hansen was born and raised in Norway, receiving all his ordinations in the same St. Olav’s Cathedral. He studied in Oslo and England and earned his doctorate in canon law in Rome in 2013. He served in the diplomatic service of the Holy See from 2013 to 2019 and was named monsignor in 2017. In 2022, Monsignor Hansen joined the Society of St. Sulpice (PSS) and began working as a lecturer and dean at the historic St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, USA.
Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was the principal consecrator, assisted by Bishop Bernt Eidsvig of Oslo and Prelate Bishop Erik Varden OCSO of Trondheim, who also serves as the president of the Nordic Bishops’ Conference. Among the about ten other archbishops and bishops present was Bishop Emeritus Teemu Sippo SCJ, representing the Diocese of Helsinki. Clergy from various countries attended the ordination, including Prelate Tuomo T. Vimpari from Rome.
St. Olav’s Cathedral has stood as a solemn sanctuary for 170 years. When it was built, Norway had around 200 Catholics. Today, that number approaches 200,000—a thousandfold increase! The cathedral was filled to capacity for the celebration, which was also streamed online for those unable to attend.
The liturgy was celebrated in Latin, English, and Norwegian, reflecting the international character of the Church. The music ranged from Gregorian hymns, such as Veni Creator Spiritus, to Norwegian hymns, including Elias Blix’s Med Jesus vil eg fara. Adding a touch of grandeur to the beginning of the Mass, all 16 verses of Petter Dass’s Baroque-era hymn Herre Gud! Dit dyre navn og ære were sung, alternating melodies for each verse.
The strong ecumenical dimension of the event was evident from the presence of representatives from various Christian denominations and other faiths. Cardinal Parolin also commended Norwegian Christians for their work in supporting refugees and migrants, seeing it as a testament to the region’s thousand-year Christian heritage.
In his homily, the cardinal reminded the congregation that the role of a bishop is to teach, sanctify, and lead. “The episcopal ministry requires humility and a servant’s heart—not wielding power or acting as an owner of the Lord’s vineyard,” he emphasized.
At the end of the Mass, the newly ordained Bishop Fredrik Hansen expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all who had supported him on his journey to this moment. His humor drew laughter from the congregation multiple times, particularly when he quipped to Bishop Eidsvig: “I’m ready. Put me to work!”
KATT / katolsk.no / katolsk.de / Bonifatiuswerk.de