Leo XIV received this October 24, 2025, in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, a group of pilgrims from Estonia within the framework of the Jubilee Year, centered on the theological virtue of hope. During the meeting, the Pontiff encouraged the faithful to live their faith with joy, to share the Gospel in everyday life, and to safeguard ecclesial unity in a country where Catholics are a minority.
Leo XIV emphasized that the Church in Estonia, recently elevated to a full-fledged diocese, represents a concrete sign of the spiritual growth of a community that has been reborn after centuries of trial. He recalled that for more than five hundred years the episcopal see of Tallinn was suppressed and that, after a long period as an apostolic administration, the Holy See decided to restore it, thereby recognizing the pastoral maturity achieved.
The Pope asked the faithful to pray for their bishop and to keep alive the communion with the universal Church. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening ties with other Christian confessions, particularly mentioning the collaboration of the Lutheran Church of Estonia in the beatification process of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, a martyr of communism recently recognized by the Church.
The Pontiff evoked the memory of Profittlich—Archbishop of Tallinn murdered in 1942 by the Soviet regime—as an example of fidelity to the end, recalling that his witness unites Christians around hope. He also took the opportunity to renew his call for peace in Europe, remembering that there are still wars that wound the continent and exhorting the pilgrims to pray intensely for the end of conflicts.
In a fraternal atmosphere, Leo XIV expressed his gratitude for the perseverance of Estonian Catholics, encouraging them to carry their faith with joy to their families and communities, and entrusted them to the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. The meeting concluded with the prayer of the Our Father, in which all those present participated.
With this gesture, the Pope reaffirms the Holy See’s attention to the small Catholic communities in northern Europe, a testimony to a faith that, though numerically modest, remains alive and missionary in a secularized context.
We leave below the full message of Leo XIV to the pilgrims from Estonia.
Dear brothers and sisters from Estonia:
I extend a cordial welcome to you on the occasion of your pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee. This is a time of grace, a time to open your hearts to the hope that does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
I thank the Lord for the growth of the Catholic community in Estonia and for the witness they offer in the midst of a world that needs hope and faith. Last year, your Church was erected as a diocese, after having been an apostolic administration for more than a century, and almost five hundred years after the disappearance of the ancient see of Tallinn. This is a sign of maturity and spiritual vitality.
Faith does not grow in isolation, but in communion. For this reason, I encourage you to maintain deep unity among yourselves, to pray for your bishop, and to strengthen ties with the Successor of Peter. Your witness, even though you are few, can be a light for many. Do not be afraid to share the joy of believing with those you encounter in your daily life.
I also give thanks for the presence of brothers from other Christian communities, especially from the Lutheran Church of Estonia, with which you collaborated in the beatification process of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich. He gave his life as a witness to the faith during the communist persecution, and his example continues to be a seed of unity and hope for all Christians.
Today, as Europe continues to suffer the effects of war, I invite you to pray for peace. May your prayer be strong and confident, especially during your stay in Rome. The world needs witnesses of hope, men and women capable of sowing reconciliation where there is hatred and love where there is indifference.
I thank you for your presence, your fidelity, and your perseverance. Carry my greetings to your families and friends, and tell them that the Pope prays for them. I entrust you to the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.
May the Lord bless you and keep you always.
The meeting concluded with the prayer of the Our Father