Raimo Goyarrola

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 September 29, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Goyarrola bishop of Helsinki.[1][4]