Catholic bishops request Pope declare Jubilee Year for Norway

Catholic bishops in Norway, including Fredrik Hansen and Erik Varden, have formally requested Pope Leo XIV to proclaim a special Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church in Norway. The proposed period would run from July 29, 2030, to August 3, 2031.

The request commemorates the millennium of Saint Olav’s martyrdom at Stiklestad in 2030 and the thousand-year anniversary of the discovery of his intact body in 2031. The initiative aims to strengthen Nidaros and Stiklestad as pilgrimage sites and foster national Catholic unity and ecumenical collaboration.

In a related meeting, Pope Leo XIV received a delegation of Lutheran bishops from Norway. During the audience, the Pope emphasized the importance of kindness and charity in resolving global and local tensions, citing Saint Olav and Saint Sunniva as examples of lives dedicated to peace and service.