Background
The son of Walter Persenius, pastor of Ullånger, he was born in Uppsala and grew up in Jämtland and Härjedalen.
The son of Walter Persenius, pastor of Ullånger, he was born in Uppsala and grew up in Jämtland and Härjedalen.
After attending Fjellstedtska School in Uppsala, he studied law, philosophy and theology, receiving a doctorate from Lund University in 1988.
Ordained in 1973, he first served as parish priest of Bro (1973-1976) before becoming educational advisor for the Diocese of Uppsala (1977-1980). Before his ordination as bishop, he headed the Stora Sköndal Foundation in Stockholm. He came second in the elections for Archbishop of Uppsala in 2006 but is encouraging wider participation of candidates for the next elections in spring 2014.
He likes to relax at his summer house in Söderhamn where he can paint, build and shovel snow.