Guillaume Cobben was the first Roman Catholic diocesan bishop in Finland since the Reformation of the 16th century. He worked as a bridge-buifder between the Roman Church ind Finnish Christians, and his actions included the promotion of diplomatic relations between Finland and the Vatican.
Background
Although Bishop Cobben's activities concentrated on the development of pastoral care, the liturgy, teaching and finances within his own congregations, he was also known as a builder of bridges between the Church of Rome and Finnish Christians. His appearances in connection with the Second Vatican Council broke down prejudices and made clearer the image of the Roman Catholic Church's doctrine and life. A conciliatory and circumspect man, he avoided sharply-worded statements, winning the respect even of people who thought differently than he did. During the Second World War, Cobben aroused sympathy for Finland abroad and promoted diplomatic contacts between Finland and the Vatican. After the war, he helped to obtain foreign aid for Finland and was active in the building of churches and schools. Cobben has gone down in history as the first Roman Catholic diocesan bishop since the Reformation.
Career
When Guillaume Cobben arrived in Helsinki in 1924 as a freshly ordained priest, he could hardly imagine what awaited him in this exotic country. He had grown up in a completely Roman Catholic region in Holland and had unexpectedly received a call to do parish work in Finland. The call had come from the Apostolic Vicar of Finland. Johannes Michael Buckx, who had been appointed to this post in 1911. Cobben first had to learn Finnish and Swedish, which he did at the small presbytery at Terijoki under the strict and competent guidance of Monsignor Adolf Carting. After working for a year in Viipuri. he was transferred to Turku as priest of the desperately poor parish that had just been established there.
In Turku, the cheerful and approachable young priest quickly became popular among his parishioners. Although Cobben was forced to work under materially constricted conditions, his helpfulness, sincerity and warm-hearted piety left a deep imprint on his parish. It came as a surprise, however, when in 1934 the 36-year-old parish priest was appointed Apostolic Vicar and consecrated as a bishop despite the fact that there were candidates who were better known and also had more distinguished careers behind them.