About Sweden:
Sweden (officially the Kingdom of Sweden) is a Nordic country in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, with coastlines along the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and other waters; Denmark lies across a narrow strait to the south.
It is a large country by European standards (about 450,000 km²) but sparsely populated, with roughly 10.6 million people. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. Swedish is the official language, and the country is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy (the monarch has mainly ceremonial duties). It is an EU member but does not use the euro. Sweden is known for its extensive forests and lakes, high standard of living, strong welfare state combined with a market economy, innovation (especially in technology, design, and industry), and a long history of neutrality (it joined NATO in recent years after applying in 2022). It has not been involved in a war for about two centuries.
Sweden is the third largest country by geographic are in the European Union and is roughly the same size as California. It had a population of 9.7 million as of 2024, making it only number 14 out of 28 member countries of the E.U. The predominant religion in Sweden, at slightly over half the population, is Lutheran. Catholics make up a tiny portion of the population at only about 1.5%.
Culturally,Sweden is known for hundreds of public and private saunas, from rustic wood‑fired bastu in the archipelago to modern spa‑hotels in cities like Stockholm and Göteborg. The sauna is a long‑standing cultural ritual, often paired with a cold plunge (kallbad), and is considered a cornerstone of wellness. Types of saunas include traditional wood‑fired dry saunas (the most common, heated by wood stoves) Steam saunas and smoke saunas (less common but available in some resorts). Note: in single‑gender public saunas, nudity is often standard; in mixed‑gender sessions, swimwear is required.
About The Catholic Church in Sweden:
One of the latest European countries to be evangelized, Catholicism arrived in the 9th century, brought here by the missionary work of St. Ansgar in the 9th century, with his mission to Birka near Stockholm in 830 AD. This marked the beginning of Christian influence in Sweden. For several hundred years after that, many churches, convents and monasteries were built. Predominant among these was the Gothic cathedral in Uppsala, which held the tomb of the martyred King Eric. Most notable perhaps was Bridget (or Birgitta) of Sweden (1303-1373) who was a wife, mother, visionary, and foundress of the Brigittine Order.By the 12th century, Sweden was organized into an ecclesiastical province with Uppsala as its seat. Stockholm’s role in Catholicism grew with the construction of churches and the influence of religious orders like the Dominicans and Franciscans. The city also became home to St. Eric’s Cathedral, named after the patron saint of Sweden, King Eric IX, who was martyred in 1160.
The Protestant Reformation dramatically changed the religious landscape. Under King Gustav I (1523-1560) victory in the Swedish War of Liberation against King Christian II of Denmark ended foreign domination over Sweden. In 1527, King Gustav Vasa broke Sweden’s ties with the Roman Catholic Church, establishing Lutheranism as the state religion. This led to the confiscation of church property, the dissolution of monasteries, and the expulsion of Catholic clergy. The Bridgettine order, founded by St. Bridget of Sweden, was particularly affected, with its members being expelled from Vadstena in 1595.
For centuries after the Reformation, Catholicism was effectively outlawed in Sweden. Catholics faced severe penalties, including exile or death. It wasn’t until the 18th century, with the Tolerance Act of 1781 by King Gustav III, that some rights were granted to foreign Catholics. However, restrictions persisted, and it wasn’t until the late 19th century that Swedes could legally convert to Catholicism without facing punishment.
Despite the image of Sweden as a thoroughly secular state, the 21st century has brought growth to the Catholic Church in Sweden, primarily as a result of immigration from other European countries such as Poland and Croatia; plus some of South American or Middle Eastern (especially Assyrian) origin.
While the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) has seen declining membership, the Catholic Church has continued to grow. Nearly 20,000 people have joined the Catholic Church in Sweden over the past 10 years, a notable increase in one of Europe’s most secularized countries, as reported by Sveriges Radio. This growth is driven by both immigration and a growing number of conversions, despite Sweden being one of Europe’s most secularized countries. The Catholic diocese in Stockholm reflects this rising interest, with about 2,000 to 3,000 new registrations annually, and official membership reaching over 130,000, making the Catholic Church one of the growing, though still minor, Christian churches (you will sometimes see it printed as a denomination….this is incorrect). The Catholic Church is not a denomination such as protestants have, it is the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ.
Multiple Catholic parishes have reported a surge in interest, with some seeing attendance and memberships triple in recent years. The growth is largely due to migration from Catholic countries, but there is also a noticeable trend of converts, including young people native to Sweden.
Catholic places of interest in Sweden:
Stockholm: Several Catholic places of interest: Saint Erich’s Cathedral; Saint Eugenia’s Church; Saint John’s Church (Sankt Johannes kyrka): formerly Evangelical Lutheran.
Vadstena: Vadstena Abbey, Tomb of Saint Brigid of Sweden.