Raimo Goyarrola

Last updated
The Most Reverend

Raimo Goyarrola

Opus Dei
Bishop of Helsinki
Bishop Raimo of Helsinki.jpg
Church Roman Catholic Church
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Helsinki
Appointed29 September 2023
Predecessor Teemu Sippo
Orders
Ordination1 September 2002
by  Javier Echevarría Rodríguez
Consecration25 November 2023
by  Anders Arborelius
Personal details
Born
Ramón Goyarrola Belda

(1969-07-20) 20 July 1969 (age 56)
Bilbao, Spain
NationalityFinnish
MottoServite Dómino in lætitia (Serve the Lord with gladness)
Coat of arms Coat of arms of Raimo Goyarrola.svg
Styles of
Raimo Goyarrola
Coat of arms of Raimo Goyarrola.svg
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Monsignor

Raimo Goyarrola Belda (born 20 July 1969) is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as Bishop of Helsinki since September 2023. He is incardinated in the Prelature of Opus Dei.

Contents

Early life and education

Ramón Goyarrola Belda was born in Bilbao on 20 July 1969. In 1987, the age of eighteen, he requested admission to the personal prelature of Opus Dei. After graduating with a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Navarra in 1992, and in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in 2002, he obtained a doctorate in dogmatic theology. [1]

Ministry

On 1 September 2002, Goyarrola was ordained a priest of the Opus Dei prelature. In 2006 he moved to Helsinki and began his pastoral work as chaplain at the Tavasttähti student residence and as University Pastoral Assistant in Helsinki. He then fulfilled several pastoral assignments: university chaplain at the Helsinki Commercial College, religion teacher at several public schools in Helsinki, and military chaplain. He represented the Diocese of Helsinki at the Ecumenical Council of Churches of Finland, where he was a member of the Ethics Committee and of the executive board. [2] [3]

In September 2011, Goyarrola became Vicar General of the Diocese of Helsinki. [4] He has also been a member of the College of Consultors, [5] of the Council of Priests [6] and of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission. He is a postulator of the cause of canonization of Blessed Bishop Hemming [7] and moderator of the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament. [8]

On 29 September 2023, Pope Francis appointed Goyarrola bishop of Helsinki. [3] [9] On 25 November, he was consecrated a bishop by Cardinal Anders Arborelius at St. John's Church in Helsinki, which is a Lutheran church. [10]

Goyarrola is the Grand Prior of the Finnish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. [11]

Goyarrola has good Finnish language skills and he has acquired Finnish citizenship. After falling in love with Finland, he started using the Finnish first name "Raimo". [9] [12] Goyarrola has said that he learned Finnish by watching Moomins on Yle Areena. [13]

References

  1. ↑ C., J. (29 September 2023). "Un vasco del Opus Dei será el nuevo obispo de Helsinki: una diócesis pequeña en continuo crecimiento". Madrid: Religión en Libertad. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Raimo Goyarrola, nuevo obispo de Helsinki: este es el vasco del Opus Dei que pastoreará a los 14.000 católicos de Finlandia". Madrid: Vida Nueva. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Resignations and Appointments, 29.09.2023". Vatican City: Holy See Press Office. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. ↑ ""Que la Iglesia luterana de Finlandia acepte el ministerio petrino no está lejos de ser realidad"". Madrid: Religión en Libertad. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Isä Marco Pasinato hiippakunnan asiainhoitajaksi" (in Finnish). Helsinki: Katolinen kirkko Suomessa. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Pappienneuvosto uudistui" (in Finnish). Helsinki: Katolinen kirkko Suomessa. 2017-07-22. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  7. ↑ "El Papa bromea con el vicario de Helsinki: "¿Rezas por mí a favor o en contra?"". Madrid: Religión Confidencial. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Yhdistykset, järjestöt, ryhmät (Föreningar, samfund, grupper; Societies, Organizations, Groups)" (in Finnish). Helsinki: Katolinen kirkko Suomessa. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 Sankamo, Juho (1 October 2023). "Isä Raimo Goyarrola nimitetty uudeksi piispaksi". Vatican News (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  10. ↑ "Seuraa piispaksi vihkimistä ja juhlallisuuksia täältä" (in Finnish). Fides - Katolinen hiippakuntalehti. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "The Lieutenancies of the World Lieutenants and Grand Priors" . Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  12. ↑ Mäkelä, Markus (26 March 2019). "Baskipappi rakastui Suomeen" (in Finnish). Sley. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  13. ↑ Kylätasku, Taneli (21 November 2023). "Isä Raimo on Suomen katolilaisten uusi piispa, jonka opettajina ovat olleet Opus Dei -järjestö ja muumit". Kirkko ja Kaupunki (in Finnish). Retrieved 25 July 2025.
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