The Bishop of Oslo, Fredrik Hansen, has defended that the mission of a bishop consists in faithfully transmitting the teachings of the Church and not in questioning them.
In an interview granted to journalist Petra Lorleberg for the German Catholic portal Kath.net, the Norwegian prelate, aged 47, stated that “as a bishop it is my duty to proclaim the faith of the Church” and warned that questioning it would mean failing in his responsibility as pastor and teacher.
Hansen explained that, during the first weeks after his appointment, several people asked him whether he believed in certain teachings of the Church.
Those conversations surprised him, as he considered it evident that the faith he was to announce was the same he had received upon converting to Catholicism.
According to him, if as bishop he began to question or criticize that faith, he would “fail in my task as teacher” and provoke “doubt and insecurity” among the faithful. “It would be a mistake,” he added.
From a Lutheran family to Catholic bishop
Born into a Lutheran family, Fredrik Hansen entered the Catholic Church when he was around twenty years old. His conversion was marked by the theological discussions that were then taking place within the Lutheran Church of Norway, especially regarding the Eucharist, ecclesiastical authority, and the role of bishops.
Upon delving deeper into those questions, he reached the conclusion that his understanding of the Eucharist and the nature of the Church corresponded to Catholic doctrine.
The bishop also recalled the peace and serenity he experienced while attending Mass during the first months after his conversion. That experience, he explained, continues to occupy a central place in his spiritual life.
Asked about the reasons that currently lead other people to embrace Catholicism, Hansen noted that many converts highlight the search for truth, doctrinal clarity, a dignified liturgy, and the possibility of being part of an authentic Christian community.
A diocesan synod inspired by Saint Charles Borromeo
During the interview, Hansen also addressed the preparation of the diocesan synod he has convened in Oslo and expressly wished to distinguish it from the German Synodal Way.
The prelate explained that it is a diocesan synod in the sense provided for by canon law, aimed at organizing and strengthening the pastoral life of the local Church. As a historical reference, he mentioned the synods held by Saint Charles Borromeo after the Council of Trent.
Among the matters to be addressed are the drafting of a new pastoral plan and the revision of the statutes of parish bodies.
Last August, when announcing the convocation of the diocesan synod, Hansen had already insisted that “a diocesan synod is not a democratic assembly”, underlining the bishop’s own responsibility in the governance of the diocese.
The prelate also identified two priorities for the Church of Oslo: the transmission of the faith to new generations and pastoral care for immigrant communities, which constitute an important part of Norway’s Catholics.
Both issues will be present in the synodal work. Hansen also acknowledged that the diocese will have to prepare for a future in which it may have fewer priests coming from abroad.
Diplomatic experience and the universality of the Church
Before assuming the pastoral governance of Oslo, Fredrik Hansen carried out part of his ministry outside Norway, especially in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, with postings in Honduras and Vienna.
Those years, he explained, allowed him to experience directly the universality of the Catholic Church. Regardless of the country or culture, he found the same spiritual home in the shared faith, the celebration of the sacraments, and communion with the pastors.
Since his arrival in Oslo, Hansen has also drawn attention for various pastoral initiatives, including the expansion of opportunities to attend the Traditional Mass in his diocese and his exhortations to recover the frequent practice of the sacrament of confession.
At the conclusion of the interview, the bishop addressed a message to German-speaking Catholics: “Be people of hope!”, recalling the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Saint John: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage: I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33).