In a profound and humane interview on the  Rebeldes Podcast , Bishop Raimundo Goyarrola —a true Bilbao native— recounts his extraordinary journey: from dreaming of curing cancer in the classrooms of Medicine to becoming pastor of one of the smallest and northernmost Catholic dioceses in Europe, Helsinki (Finland).

Childhood and early vocation: the cancer that changed everything

At just 15 years old, Goyarrola watched his mother succumb to cancer. That immense grief ignited a burning desire within him: to study medicine and fight the disease. However, the experience taught him a deeper lesson: often the body cannot be healed, but the soul can always be soothed. On her deathbed, his mother left him a simple yet timeless testament: “Teach your children to love Jesus.”

At the age of 14, during a seemingly ordinary Mass, he grasped the Eucharistic mystery: “Jesus dies for me.” That moment was decisive. Shortly afterward, a muscle injury while dancing Basque folk dances led him to Opus Dei, where he discovered the call to holiness in the midst of the world. By the age of 15, his vocation as a numerary member was clear.

From doctor to priest: Rome, Seville and the leap to the north

After graduating in Medicine and specializing in psychiatry, he reached a crossroads: secure job offers in Pamplona and Madrid or theology in Rome. He chose the latter. He was ordained a priest in 2002. He remembers with emotion the day of his first Mass: “I haven’t gotten used to saying ‘This is my body’.”

His first posting was Seville, where he experienced extreme heat (53°C in the shade!). But an unexpected call changed everything: Finland. In 2006, he arrived in Helsinki. The local bishop, upon seeing him, placed the zucchetto on his head and said, “You will be my successor.” Goyarrola thought it was a joke. It wasn’t.

Finland: Breaking the ice with humor and faith

Finland is a country of contrasts: the happiest in the world according to some rankings, but also with high rates of loneliness, depression, and suicide. Goyarrola explains that material “happiness” (healthcare, punctuality, well-being) does not equate to inner peace. He advocates for the latter: sleeping well, vitamin D, exercise, nature, silence… and, above all,  faith in God .

His book  , Breaking the Ice,  humorously recounts his struggles to learn Finnish: confusing the wedding at Cana with “the chicken wedding,” or turning on a computer “in the name of Jesus” when nothing was working. But behind the humor lies a truth: uttering the name of Jesus breaks any ice.

Bishop in the happiest diocese in Europe and the world

Appointed bishop in 2023 by Pope Francis, Goyarrola leads a tiny Church (0.2% of the population). Lacking resources, with pipes bursting from the cold, but full of hope. His episcopal motto: “To serve the Lord with joy.” For him, happiness arises precisely from serving: cleaning floors, bringing food to refugees, accompanying the sick.

True ecumenism stands out: his ordination took place in a Lutheran church, with Lutheran, Orthodox, and other Christian bishops in attendance. He now chairs an international committee for Catholic-Lutheran dialogue leading up to 2030.

Meetings with popes and the central message: Jesus at the center

He has met several popes. He has met the current Pope Leo XIV on several occasions. He describes him as analytical, straightforward, and focused on a clear message:  putting Jesus at the center . He recalls with emotion a vigil during the Jubilee for Young People: absolute silence, the Blessed Sacrament on the altar, and tears on thousands of faces. “Jesus at the center,” he repeats.

Trust, service, and dreams fulfilled

From Bilbao to Helsinki, Raimundo Goyarrola’s journey is a living lesson: dream big, trust in God more than in certainties, serve with joy, and put Jesus at the center. As he himself says, “Good dreams, God fulfills them… and makes them greater.”

A Basque man took the Bilbao metro… and got off at the end of the world. But there he found his home, his mission, and immense joy.