Type: | Bishop |
Honorific-Prefix: | The Most Reverend |
Raimo Goyarrola | |
Honorific-Suffix: | Opus Dei |
Bishop of Helsinki | |
Church: | Roman Catholic Church |
Diocese: | Roman Catholic Diocese of Helsinki |
Appointed: | 29 September 2023 |
Predecessor: | Teemu Sippo |
Ordination: | 1 September 2002 |
Ordained By: | Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodríguez |
Consecration: | 25 November 2023 |
Consecrated By: | Cardinal Anders Arborelius |
Birth Name: | Ramón Goyarrola Belda |
Birth Date: | 20 July 1969 |
Birth Place: | Bilbao, Spain |
Nationality: | Spanish |
Motto: | Servite Dómino in lætitia (Serve the Lord with gladness) |
Coat Of Arms: | Coat of arms of Raimo Goyarrola.svg |
Raimo Goyarrola | |
Deathstyle: | not applicable |
Raimo Goyarrola Belda (born 20 July 1969) is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church. He has served as Bishop of Helsinki since September 2023. He is incardinated in the Prelature of Opus Dei.[1]
Ramón Goyarrola Belda was born in Bilbao on 20 July 1969. At the age of eighteen, he requested admission to the personal prelature of Opus Dei (1987). After graduating in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Navarra in 1992, and in Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in 2002, he obtained a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology.[2]
On 1 September 2002 Goyarrola was ordained a priest, incardinating himself in the Opus Dei prelature. In 2006 he moved to Helsinki, Finland where he began his pastoral work as chaplain at the Tavasttähti student residence and as University Pastoral Assistant in Helsinki. He later assumed various pastoral positions: university chaplain at the Helsinki Commercial College, religion teacher at several public schools in Helsinki, military chaplain, representative of the Diocese of Helsinki at the Ecumenical Council of Churches of Finland, where he was a member of the Ethics Committee and of the executive board.[3] [4]
In September 2011, Goyarrola became Vicar General of the Diocese of Helsinki.[5] In addition, he is a member of the College of Consultors,[6] of the Council of Priests[7] and of the Diocesan Liturgy Commission, as well as a postulator of the cause of canonization of Blessed Bishop Hemming[8] and moderator of the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament.[9]
On 29 September 2023, Pope Francis appointed Goyarrola bishop of Helsinki.[1] [4] On 25 November, he was consecrated by Anders Cardinal Arborelius. His episcopal consecration took place at St. John's Church in Helsinki, which is a Lutheran church.[10] [11]