Teemu Sippo

The Most Reverend

Teemu Sippo

S.C.I.
Bishop of Helsinki
Bishop Sippo
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseRoman Catholic Diocese of Helsinki
Appointed16 June 2009
Installed5 September 2009
Term ended20 May 2019
PredecessorJózef Wróbel
SuccessorRaimo Goyarrola
Orders
Ordination28 May 1977
Consecration5 September 2009
by Karl Lehmann
Personal details
Born (1947-05-20) May 20, 1947 (age 77)
Lahti, Finland
Nationality Finn
Alma materAlbert Ludwig University, Freiburg
MottoChristus fons vitae (Christ is the source of life)
Coat of armsTeemu Sippo's coat of arms
Styles of
Teemu Sippo
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Posthumous stylenot applicable

Teemu Jyrki Juhani Sippo, S.C.I. (born 20 May 1947) is a Finnish retired Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Helsinki from 2009 to 2019. He was the first Finnish-born Catholic bishop since Arvid Kurck (1464–1522).

Life

Teemu Sippo was born on 20 May 1947 in Lahti, Finland, into a Lutheran family. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1966. Four years later he decided to start studying to become a priest. He became a professed member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in 1970 and entered the seminary at the University of Freiburg. He wrote his Master's thesis on Paul Tillich's principle of Protestantism. His thesis advisor was Karl Lehmann. He was ordained a priest on May 28, 1977.

After that he worked in Helsinki and Jyväskylä. On 16 June 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Helsinki,[1] succeeding Josef Wrobel, who had been appointed auxiliary bishop of Lublin. He was consecrated bishop by Karl Cardinal Lehmann on September 5, 2009. His consecration took place in the Turku Cathedral, which is a Lutheran church.

Pope Francis accepted his resignation as bishop on 20 May 2019.[2] Sippo cited health reasons for his early retirement. He had been hospitalized for three months following a fall in December 2018.[3]

Orthodox archbishop Leo Makkonen, mons. Sippo and archbishop Jukka Paarma.

References

  1. ^ "Rinunce e Nomine, 16.06.2009" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 20.05.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Finlandia: vescovo di Helsinki Teemu Sippo, accolte le dimissioni per motivi di salute. A dicembre era stato vittima di un grave incidente" (in Italian). Agensir. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
Additional sources
  • Maarit Olkkola: Unexplained road. Evening Times, 2009, No. 15.8., p 28.
  • Fides - Catholic Diocese of Journal 08/2009, p 6.
  • Katholische Nachrichten kreuz.net, Der Skandalbischof wurde ernannt, 18.6.2009.
  • Teemu Sippo SCJ: Position Paper of marriage to protect the Catholic Church . 19.3.2009. Subsequent Helsinki 11.8.2009.
  • Teemu Sippo SCJ: Trenton and the Vatican II exhibition Kotimaa.fi . 17.3.2009. Subsequent Helsinki 11.8.2009.
  • Katholische Nachrichten kreuz.net, Wie viele Reserve hat die Kirche noch?, 5.7.2010.
  • Fides - Catholic Diocese of Journal 09/2011, p 7, 13/2011, p 6.
  • M. Angela Toigo, one mouse prayers, KATT 1984, Helsinki, Finland, ISBN 951-9386-25-4.
  • Bernhard Welte, Nothingness light. possibility of a new religious experience. The log-books in 2008, Helsinki, Finland, ISBN 978-951-825-037-4.