OF ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE (4/2026)
Building a Civilization of Human Dignity
This issue of Fides is united by a theme that resonates throughout its pages: the dignity of every human person and the Church’s mission to protect, nurture and accompany human life in every circumstance. Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical Magnifica humanitas, the magazine invites readers to reflect on how Christians are called to build society—not through power, prestige or technological triumph, but through love, service and patient cooperation.
In the editorial, Marko Tervaportti develops one of the encyclical’s central images. Pope Leo contrasts the Tower of Babel with the rebuilding of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Babel represents human pride, self-sufficiency and the illusion that greatness can be achieved without God. Nehemiah, by contrast, rebuilt the city’s walls patiently and together with the whole community. Drawing further on St Augustine’s famous teaching on the two loves that shape history, the editorial reminds readers that every society—and every human heart—is continually faced with a choice between self-love and the love of God that overflows into love of neighbour. The true measure of Christian life is therefore not success or efficiency, but the willingness to build something lasting through humility, perseverance and generous service.
The same message is echoed in Pope Leo XIV’s historic address to the joint session of the Spanish Parliament. Rather than presenting the Church as a political actor, the Pope describes her vocation as that of conscience: reminding society of the moral principles upon which genuine justice is built. Human dignity, he insists, is not granted by governments nor determined by public opinion. It belongs equally to every person simply because he or she exists. His strongest appeal concerns the defence of human life from conception until natural death. A society that neglects unborn children, the elderly, the sick or those entirely dependent upon the care of others cannot truly call itself just. The Pope therefore describes the protection of human life not as a confessional concern but as a measure of civilisation itself and of a nation’s moral greatness.
The central feature of this issue continues the same reflection through an extensive interview with Bishop Raimo Goyarrola following the successful defence of his doctoral dissertation on spirituality in palliative care. Conducted at the University of Eastern Finland, the study seeks practical ways of recognising the spiritual needs of patients receiving palliative care.
Bishop Raimo emphasises throughout the interview that palliative care is frequently misunderstood. It is neither euthanasia nor merely end-of-life care. Rather, it begins when an incurable illness is diagnosed and may continue for months or even years alongside treatments that relieve symptoms or slow the progression of disease. Good palliative care, he explains, neither hastens death nor artificially prolongs life; its purpose is to improve the patient’s quality of life while accompanying him or her naturally until death.
Perhaps the interview’s most memorable insight is contained in its title: “A patient is not a diagnosis—he is a human being.” Modern medicine has achieved remarkable advances in treating physical illness, yet many patients struggle above all with questions of hope, forgiveness, relationships and the meaning of life. These questions cannot be answered by medication, yet they must never be ignored. Bishop Raimo argues that healthcare professionals should not overlook these deeper dimensions of suffering.
His research therefore introduces practical questionnaires that help patients and healthcare professionals identify spiritual needs and begin conversations that might otherwise never take place. He hopes these tools will become part of everyday clinical practice rather than remain on library shelves. Ultimately, he reminds readers that truly good medicine begins with recognising the dignity of the person before us.
One of the major features explores the history of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in Turku through the recollections of Benito Casagrande, who was closely involved in its development. Readers discover how the chapel came into being and how it became an important place of prayer, worship and community life for Catholics in southwestern Finland. More than the story of a building, the article tells how faith, perseverance and generous cooperation helped establish a lasting Catholic presence in the region.
Another feature takes readers to the ancient Shrine of Our Lady of Bonaria in Sardinia, one of the oldest Marian pilgrimage sites in the Mediterranean. It recounts the history of the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary and explains how devotion to Our Lady of Bonaria has remained a source of hope for generations of pilgrims. The shrine also gave its name to Buenos Aires, illustrating how a local Marian devotion eventually reached another continent.
The vitality of the local Church is reflected in the report on Bishop Raimo Goyarrola’s canonical visitation to St Ursula’s Parish in Kouvola, the eighth and final visitation of the current cycle. The bishop met parish councils, volunteers and parishioners before celebrating a packed Sunday Mass during which several adults entered full communion with the Catholic Church and young parishioners received the Sacrament of Confirmation. He encouraged Catholics to draw strength from the Word of God and the Eucharist and to witness openly to their faith.
Another important article presents the Nordic Bishops’ Conference’s new pastoral guidance concerning Freemasonry. While recognising the goodwill of individual Freemasons, the bishops reaffirm that Masonic principles remain incompatible with the Catholic faith and therefore repeat the Church’s long-standing sacramental discipline.
The issue also contains the Diocese of Helsinki’s financial review for 2025. Membership income and donations continued to grow, although expanding pastoral activity also increased expenses. The report expresses gratitude for the generosity of the faithful and underlines the importance of responsible stewardship as the Catholic population in Finland continues to expand.
Readers will also find an introduction to the Diocese’s safeguarding programme, reports from Ansgarwerk’s theological study days in Germany, news from the universal Church, the annual St Henry pilgrimage and several other articles reflecting the vibrant life of the Catholic Church in Finland.
Full English versions of these and many other articles are available at fides.katolinen.fi/en.
Compiled with the assistance of AI.
Happy reading!