About Greenland:
Greenland is the world’s largest island. To give you an idea of the size of Greenland, it covers 836,330 square miles, about a quarter of the size of the continental United States. Even though it is a part of the North American continent, Greenland’s history has been associated primarily with Europe; in particular, the two colonial powers, Norway and Denmark since the 9th Century.
As of 1953, the people of Greenland became citizens of Denmark, with Denmark contributing two-thirds of Greenland’s budget revenue, the rest coming mainly from fishing. Greeland is not fully idependent, but rather an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, meaning it has a high degree of self-governance, with its own parliament and government, while still being part of the Danish realm.
Potential oil, gas and rare earth mineral reserves have attracted prospecting firms, as well as from other governments (particularly, the U.S.): the 2025 proposal from Donald Trump to buy Greenland is nothing new….in 1946, the United States offered Denmark $100 million ($1 billion in 2025 pricing) in gold bullion for Greenland. United States senator Owen Brewster said in November 1945 that he considered buying the island “a military necessity”.
The capital city of Nuuk holds almost half of the population of Greenland, with 19,872 people out of a total of 56,900 as of 2024.
The official languages are Greenlandic (also known as Kalaallisut, an Inuit language) and Danish. English is also spoken by many.
The sun does not set between May 25 to July 25. July is the only month when daily temperatures rise above freezing, the longest day being June 21, which is a national holiday in Greenland ( a good reason to celebrate, in our opinion).
About the Catholic Church in Greenland:
Catholicism was introduced to Greenland about 1000 AD. when Leif Ericson, son of Eric the Red, visited Nidaros (now Trondheim, Norway) and converted to Christianity while at the court of the Norwegian king. He then returned to his father’s farm in southern Greenland, and brought along two priests sent by King Olaf Tryggvason. In January 1814 Norway was ceded from Denmark as a result of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. As a result of the Treaty of Kiel, Denmark resumed full sovereignty over Greenland soon after.
Sixteen parishes and churches were founded along with at least two monasteries and a convent for Benedictine nuns. Churches built in Greenland were not independent properties owned by the church, but were built on farmland given by local farmers and other chief villagers, and collected a part of the tithes given to the church and sent them to the archbishop in Nidaros. Attempts were made in nearby Scandinavian countries to take control of the local churches, and Norway’s control of trade with Greenland in 1261 may have put pressure on local churches to become independent, just as they had in Norway.
From 1855 to 1868 Greenland was part of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Arctic Pole, based in Norway. Since that time, Greenland has been part of the Danish Catholic Church hierarchy, first the Apostolic Prefecture of Copenhagen, which was raised to a Vicariate Apostolic, and later a full Catholic Diocese. The territory was under the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of Copenhagen in the early 20th century.
Lutheranism was the official state-sponsored religion up until 1953, when religious liberty was declared.
In the summer of 1980, the Little Sisters of Jesus established a presence in Nuuk with three sisters.
Catholic places of interest in Greenland:
In collaboration with the US military Ordinariate, the mission also provides for U.S. Catholics stationed at the U.S. military base in Greenland. Formerly named Thule Air Base, it was renamed Pituffik Space Base in April 2023. At 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the base is the northernmost installation of the U.S. Armed Forces.
There is only one Catholic parish in Greenland:
Greenland has only one Catholic Church: Christ the King Church (Krist Konge Kirke) in Nuuk. Masses are celebrated in Danish and English.
Since 1980, the Sisters of the Fraternity of the Little Sisters of Jesus in Nuuk work in the mission, and since 2023 the parish has been entrusted to the Franciscan friars (OFMConv) from Copenhagen.
Photos above courtesy Father Tomaz Majcen, O.F.M., Pastor of Christ the King Church, Nuuk, Greenland.
Address: Kutaa 1 Box 51, Nuuk 3900, Greenland
Phone: +299 23 15 48
Click here for the official website of Christ the King Church in Nuuk, Greenland.
Click here for the official tourism site of Greenland