On behalf of Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn presided over the ceremony in the capital Tallinn.
Together with Profittlich, he honoured the approximately 23,000 victims of Soviet tyranny in the Baltic country, where today less than one percent of the population belongs to the Catholic Church.
The Jesuit Profittlich, initially a parish priest in Tallinn, became head of the Estonian Catholic Church in 1931 and archbishop in 1936. After the annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940, he turned down the opportunity to flee, was arrested in 1941 and died in Soviet custody in 1942. His beatification, which was arranged by Pope Francis, was the first in Estonian history.
The ceremony in Tallinn's Freedom Square was attended by President Alar Karis and numerous representatives of other Christian churches. Bishop Stephan Ackermann from Profittlich's home diocese of Trier attended the service with a delegation. Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the Holy See's ambassador to the Baltic states, was also among the guests.
Referring to all Estonian victims of the occupation, Cardinal Schönborn recalled "unknown saints" whose names are known only to God. "We can hope that the countless martyrs of our time - the 23,000 names of victims in this country alone - will not remain entirely without fruit," said Schönborn, Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna.
According to Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, the fate of Priest Profittlich reflects "the tragedy of our entire nation". Every Estonian has their own history of deportation, Tsahkna said in a statement.
"History is repeating itself"
"Today, when Russia is committing atrocities during its aggression against Ukraine, including deportations, executions and other acts against humanity and international law, this is a painful reminder of our own past. History is repeating itself. Profittlich's story is a painful and clear reminder that freedom, truth and human dignity cannot be taken for granted - they must be defended everywhere," Tsahkna said.
Profittlich was born in 1890 in Birresdorf in Rhineland-Palatinate - now Grafschaft. His beatification process was opened in 2003.
In 2024, Pope Francis recognised the death of the religious and archbishop as martyrdom.
Bishop Ackermann of Trier called the beatification an encouragement for Catholics in Estonia.
Profittlich's testimony of faith shows "that nationality plays a subordinate role in being a Christian, that nationalistic borders can be overcome through faith".