Johánnes Gunnarsson
Encyclopedia
Jóhannes Gunnarsson, SMM (August 3, 1897—June 17, 1972) was an Iceland
ic prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Apostolic Vicar of Iceland
from 1942 until his resignation in 1967.
. His grandfather was a leader in the Althing
, and his father converted to Roman Catholicism
while attending school in Denmark
; he was Iceland
's only native Catholic for twenty years.
Jóhannes Gunnarsson did his early studies under the Icelandic Jesuits
, then in Denmark
, and later studied theology
in Holland. He was ordained
as a priest
of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary on June 14, 1924, and, upon his return to Reykjavík, commenced his priestly ministry at the Cathedral
.
On February 23, 1943, Gunnarsson was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Iceland
and Titular Bishop
of Hólar
by Pope Pius XI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following July 7 at St. Patrick's Church in Washington, D.C.
Gunnarsson was enthroned as Apostolic Vicar after returning to Iceland, where he was the first native bishop in nearly four centuries; the last was Jón Arason
, who was beheaded with his two sons by King Christian III
in 1550. At the time of his consecration, there were only three parishes
and four hundred Catholics in his country, which is predominantly of the Lutheran
persuasion.
Bishop Gunnarsson attended the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965, and resigned his post in 1967, after twenty-five years of service. He later died at the age of 74.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Apostolic Vicar of Iceland
Bishop of Reykjavik (Catholic)
-The Christianization of Iceland:The Norsemen who settled in Iceland from the end of the ninth century were pagans; and it was one of the functions of their chieftains, called goði, to conduct religious services...
from 1942 until his resignation in 1967.
Biography
Jóhannes Gunnarsson was born in ReykjavíkReykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. His grandfather was a leader in the Althing
Althing
The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant...
, and his father converted to Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
while attending school in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
; he was Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
's only native Catholic for twenty years.
Jóhannes Gunnarsson did his early studies under the Icelandic Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, then in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and later studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Holland. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
as a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
of the Missionaries of the Company of Mary on June 14, 1924, and, upon his return to Reykjavík, commenced his priestly ministry at the Cathedral
Landakotskirkja
Landakotskirkja , formally named Basilika Krists konungs , is the cathedral of the Catholic Church in Iceland. It is often referred to as Kristskirkja . Landakotskirkja is located in the western part of Reykjavík, on the Landakot property. It has a distinctively flat top, as opposed to the standard...
.
On February 23, 1943, Gunnarsson was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Iceland
Bishop of Reykjavik (Catholic)
-The Christianization of Iceland:The Norsemen who settled in Iceland from the end of the ninth century were pagans; and it was one of the functions of their chieftains, called goði, to conduct religious services...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Hólar
Hólar
Hólar is a small community located in the Skagafjörður district and situated in northern Iceland.-Location:Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some from the national capital at Reykjavík. Hólar has a population of around 100...
by Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following July 7 at St. Patrick's Church in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Gunnarsson was enthroned as Apostolic Vicar after returning to Iceland, where he was the first native bishop in nearly four centuries; the last was Jón Arason
Jón Arason
Jón Arason was an Icelandic Roman Catholic bishop and poet, who was executed in his struggle against the imposition of the Protestant Reform in Iceland.-Background:...
, who was beheaded with his two sons by King Christian III
Christian III of Denmark
Christian III reigned as king of Denmark and Norway. He was the eldest son of King Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg.-Childhood:...
in 1550. At the time of his consecration, there were only three parishes
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
and four hundred Catholics in his country, which is predominantly of the Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
persuasion.
Bishop Gunnarsson attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965, and resigned his post in 1967, after twenty-five years of service. He later died at the age of 74.