Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tallinn (Agenzia Fides) – Eduard Profittlich (1890-1942), a Jesuit missionary from Germany and Archbishop of Tallinn, will be the first Estonian Catholic to be beatified, during a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn on September 6 in the Baltic capital. The new beatified bishop has a unique and very timely story: that of a man who, through his faith in Christ, found the strength to stand by the people he served, even in times of need.
Eduard Profittlich was born into a peasant family in Birresdorf (Germany) and entered the Jesuit Order at the age of 23 in Heerenberg (Netherlands). Although he originally intended to become a missionary in Russia, he was beatified by Pius XI on May 11, 1931. He was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Estonia in 1935, and his appointment coincided with the re-establishment and re-organization of the Catholic Church in Estonia.
His commitment to cultural and pastoral work, in constant dialogue with followers of other Christian denominations in Estonia, brought him closer to both the intelligentsia of the Baltic Republic and the children of the people.
As proof of his unwavering commitment to the tasks entrusted to him by the Holy See, he applied for and received Estonian citizenship in 1935. In 1936, he was ordained a bishop and chose not to leave his episcopal see, even during the Soviet invasion in June 1940, despite having the opportunity to flee. In a letter to his family dated February 8, 1941, he declared that he wanted to offer his freedom and his life to Christ, a sentiment he also reiterated in a letter to the then Secretary of State, Cardinal Luigi Maglione.
Religious persecutions did not spare the Archbishop of Tallinn: He was arrested in June 1941 and taken to Kirov, a Russian city about 950 km from Moscow, where he died in prison in 1942. His firm faith in Christ is also evident in the records of the interrogations he was subjected to during his imprisonment.
"His holiness is not limited to the moment of his martyrdom in 1942: his death was merely the last earthly act of an entire life dedicated to the mission of the Catholic Church and the Estonian people," Marge-Marie Paas, diocesan postulator for the beatification of Eduard Profittlich, told Fides about the figure of the Jesuit. "It is important to consider what Profittlich left behind long before his death: he taught people to accumulate spiritual, not material, riches and to focus on what truly endures and matters. Despite all difficulties, he continually reminded us of God's presence in the world: He understood that God is close to each of us as a companion in our daily lives, not only when extraordinary events occur," says Paas.
The research and studies documenting the bishop's life are also based on testimonies to his holiness provided by Profittlich's surviving relatives, some of whom will be present at the beatification ceremony in Tallinn. "Meeting his family members was an extraordinary experience for me: it allowed me to get to know Bishop Eduard's personality," continues the diocesan postulator, "and that is fundamental in a beatification process. I visited his birthplace and places in Germany (especially Trier and Leimersdorf) where people keep his memory alive."
Eduard Profittlich introduced the small Estonian Catholic community to some prayer traditions he had learned in Germany and Poland, where he had lived. "Prayer was his way of life: he prayed not only in church but also with his actions and found time to help anyone in need, regardless of their faith or social status," Paas emphasized.
The beatification events and subsequent celebrations will take place in Tallinn from September 4 to 7. Currently, the Catholic community in Estonia numbers approximately 8,000 faithful, representing 0.58% of the country's total population. (CD) (Agenzia Fides, 3/9/2025)
