Pope Francis Approves Beatification of Martyred Estonian Archbishop Eduard Profittlich

Vatican, December 19, 2024: Pope Francis has approved the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, a German-born Jesuit who served as the Apostolic Administrator of Estonia and was martyred in the Soviet Union in 1942. The announcement was made on December 18 during an audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, where the Pope authorized the promulgation of decrees for several causes of sainthood, including recognizing Archbishop Profittlich’s martyrdom.

Archbishop Profittlich, who led the Catholic Church in Estonia from 1931, was arrested by Soviet authorities in 1941 following their invasion of Estonia. He was deported to a Siberian prison, where he was sentenced to death. Before the sentence could be carried out, he died from exposure in Kirov prison on February 22, 1942.

The beatification marks a significant milestone for the Catholic Church in Estonia, coinciding with the centenary of the creation of the Apostolic Administration of Estonia in 1924. Bishop Philippe Jourdan of Tallinn expressed his joy at the announcement, noting that Archbishop Profittlich will be the first Blessed from Estonia.

“This event is of immense importance for the local Church,” said Bishop Jourdan in an interview with Vatican News. “It reminds us that the Church’s mission is to guide people toward holiness. Having a Blessed from Estonia brings the mission of sainthood into the present and inspires people to strive for it.”

Bishop Jourdan also emphasized the beatification’s symbolic significance for Estonia, a small Catholic community often seen as being on the Church's periphery. “This event brings us closer to the center of the universal Church,” he said, adding that Archbishop Profittlich’s life exemplifies unwavering faith and hope.

Archbishop Profittlich’s episcopal motto, "Faith and Peace," resonates strongly with the challenges faced by Catholics in Estonia and beyond. Marge-Marie Paas, Communications Director of the Diocese of Tallinn and diocesan postulator for the beatification cause, highlighted his enduring legacy.

“Archbishop Profittlich stands as an example of faith and hope for people everywhere,” said Ms. Paas. “His life and martyrdom remind us to keep faith and peace alive in our hearts, even in the most difficult circumstances.”

In addition to Archbishop Profittlich, Pope Francis recognized several other causes during the audience. These included the equivalent canonization of the Martyrs of Compiègne and the martyrdom of Servant of God Elia Comini, an Italian Salesian priest killed in hatred of the faith during World War II. The Pope also approved decrees for the heroic virtues of several Servants of God, underscoring the Church’s ongoing mission to highlight examples of holiness across the world.

Courtesy: Vatican News