Elevation to diocese of the apostolic administration of Estonia, and appointment of first bishop, Estonia

The Holy Father has elevated the apostolic administration of Estonia to the grade of diocese, with the name of Tallinn, maintaining its territorial configuration and leaving unchanged its status of ecclesiastical circumscription immediately subject to the Holy See.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Philippe Jean-Charles Jourdan, until now apostolic administrator of the apostolic administration of Estonia, as first bishop of the diocese of Tallinn, Estonia.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Philippe Jourdan was born on 30 August 1960 in Dax, France. He was awarded a diploma in mathematics and engineering from the École des Ponts ParisTech, Paris, in 1983, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, in 1987.

He was ordained a priest and incardinated in the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei on 20 August 1988.

He has held the following offices: chaplain of the Colegio de Fomento Aldeafuente, Madrid (1988-1989), chaplain of the Centre Culturel Garnelle, Paris (1989-1993), pastoral animator of various student residences in Paris (1992-1995), vicar general of the apostolic administration in Estonia (1996-2005), and parish priest of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Tallinn (1999-2001). On 23 March 2005 he was appointed titular bishop of Pertusa and apostolic administrator of the apostolic administration of Estonia.