To commemorate the occasion, Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, as his papal legate for the celebrations in Copenhagen on January 25, 2026.
The appointment, announced by the Vatican Press Office, places Cardinal Parolin at the heart of an anniversary that reaches far beyond Denmark — back to the very roots of Christianity in Scandinavia.
When the Gospel first crossed into the North
In a Latin-language letter dated December 8, Pope Leo XIV recalls that in 826, a young Benedictine monk named St. Ansgar set out on a journey that would quietly change European history, as shared by Sir Agenzia d'informazione.
Accompanying Harald Klak — a newly baptized Danish ruler — Ansgar traveled north to plant what the Pope describes as “the seed of the Gospel in Scandinavian soil.”
It was an unlikely mission. Denmark at the time was shaped by Norse religion, political instability, and resistance to outside influence. And yet, Ansgar persisted — founding early Christian communities and laying the groundwork for what would eventually become a lasting Christian presence in the region.
Though conversions were slow and setbacks frequent, Ansgar’s perseverance earned him the enduring title Apostle of the North.
A small Church with deep roots
Christianity in Denmark would not become firmly established until centuries later — notably with the baptism of King Harald Bluetooth around 965 — but Ansgar’s mission marked the first decisive step. Today, Denmark remains predominantly Lutheran, following the Reformation of the 16th century, yet the Catholic Church has endured as a small but vibrant minority.
The Diocese of Copenhagen, which encompasses the entire country, serves Catholics from more than 150 national backgrounds — a quiet reminder that Christianity in Denmark has always been shaped by missionary courage and cultural encounter.
Charity as the heart of mission
In his letter to Cardinal Parolin, Pope Leo XIV underlines a theme that links the 9th century to the present: charity. He writes that “the practice of charity remains the dynamic foundation of the Church’s mission,” reminding the faithful that the Gospel must always be measured by how it is lived — especially in service to the poor.
The Pope adds that the Church, as a mother, can never forget her poorest children, and that the history of Christianity is continually renewed when love is put into action.
A celebration rooted in history — and hope
On January 25, 2026 — the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul — Cardinal Parolin will preside, in the Pope’s name, over a solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Ansgar’s Cathedral, joined by local clergy including Monsignor Niels Englebrecht and Father Marcos Romero Bernús.
The date is fitting. Just as Paul’s conversion reshaped the early Church, so too did Ansgar’s quiet obedience begin a Christian story that continues 1,200 years later.
In an age when faith in Northern Europe is often described as fragile or fading, this anniversary offers a different perspective: that Christianity in Denmark was never born from numbers or power, but from patient witness, sacrifice, and love.
And that, perhaps, is what makes this celebration not just historical — but profoundly relevant today.