In the icy vastness of Greenland, where glaciers dominate the landscape and communities are separated by long distances and extreme weather, a small Catholic flock gathers around the island’s only priest — and now finds itself caught in the emotional wake of global political rhetoric.
Father Tomaž Majcen, a Conventual Franciscan from Slovenia, has served Greenland’s Catholic population since 2023, celebrating daily Mass at Christ the King Church in Nuuk and traveling regularly to visit Catholics scattered across the territory. According to EWTN News, there are roughly 800 Catholics among Greenland’s 57,000 residents, most of them immigrants, with a small number of local Greenlanders.
Life in Greenland is marked by harsh conditions, with winter temperatures dropping below minus 50 degrees Celsius. But Majcen told ACI Prensa that a different strain has recently emerged — one tied not to climate, but to international politics.
An Urgent Message from Sister Sara – Please Watch
Reacting to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting possible annexation or control of Greenland, Majcen said the island’s population has responded with quiet concern. “Yes, there is a lot of uneasiness, though it is quiet,” he said, according to EWTN News. “People here are not dramatic; they are reserved. But fear doesn’t always shout — often it whispers.”
The priest noted that many Greenlanders feel unsettled not only by the political implications, but by how their homeland is discussed. “Greenland is spoken of as if it were an object, not a home,” Majcen said. He explained that such language makes people feel “small and invisible,” even when threats feel geographically distant.
As polar routes become more accessible and the Arctic grows in strategic importance, Majcen warned that geopolitical conversations often ignore the human reality on the ground. “When these kinds of words appear in the media, they create noise, confusion, and anxiety among ordinary people,” he said, adding that daily life in Greenland is usually focused on family, work, weather, and community.
At the heart of his concern, Majcen said, is the erosion of human dignity. “Political debates focus on territory, resources, and strategy but rarely on the heart of the people,” he told ACI Prensa.
Those worries surface frequently in pastoral conversations. “Some people ask me: ‘Do we matter? Will our voice be heard? Are we just a bargaining chip?’” Majcen said, explaining that such questions reflect deep uncertainty that “weakens trust and generates anxiety.”
Even before renewed international attention, Greenland faced serious social challenges, including high rates of suicide and alcoholism. In that context, Majcen emphasized the Church’s role as a steady presence of hope. He spoke of the need for the “tenderness of the Gospel,” which “reminds us that each person has a face, a name, and a story.”
Majcen also addressed environmental concerns, pointing to Greenland’s recent decision to prohibit new hydrocarbon exploration despite significant oil and gas reserves. According to EWTN News, the choice reflected economic realities, environmental protection, and a commitment to sustainable priorities such as fishing, tourism, and hydropower.
“Our fragile Arctic environment is one of God’s most impressive — and most vulnerable — masterpieces,” Majcen said. “Caring for it is also a way of respecting those of us who live here.”
The priest welcomed an ecumenical response from Greenland’s Lutheran majority. Citing the World Council of Churches, EWTN News reported that Lutheran Bishop Paneeraq Siegstad Munk encouraged parishes to pray weekly for peace and stability. Majcen described this cooperation as a lived expression of Christian unity. “Prayer helps society breathe more calmly,” he said.
Looking ahead, Majcen said his hope for Greenland remains simple. “That Greenland can grow in peace, with dignity and respect for itself. That young people feel proud of who they are. And that fear does not have the last word.”
As global powers debate strategy and resources, Greenland’s lone Catholic priest continues to remind the world — and his flock — that no future can be built without listening to the people who call the land home.
Your support brings the truth to the world.
Catholic Online News exists because of donors like you. We are 100% funded by people who believe the world deserves real, uncensored news rooted in faith and truth — not corporate agendas. Your gift ensures millions can continue to access the news they can trust — stories that defend life, faith, family, and freedom.
When truth is silenced, your support speaks louder.
