Ruben Josefson

The Most Reverend

Ruben Josefson
Archbishop of Uppsala
Primate of Sweden
Native name
Per Love Ruben Josefson
ChurchChurch of Sweden
ArchdioceseUppsala
Appointed1967
In office1967–1972
PredecessorGunnar Hultgren
SuccessorOlof Sundby
Previous postBishop of Härnösand (1958-1967)
Orders
Ordination15 December 1940
by Erling Eidem
Consecration18 January 1959
by Gunnar Hultgren
RankMetropolitan Archbishop
Personal details
Born(1907-08-25)25 August 1907
Died19 March 1972(1972-03-19) (aged 64)
Uppsala, Sweden
BuriedUppsala gamla kyrkogård
NationalitySwedish
ParentsPer Linus Josefson
Alfrida Lovisa Christiansson
Alma materUppsala University
Coat of arms

Per Love Ruben Josefson (25 August 1907 – 19 March 1972) was a Swedish theologian and bishop in the Church of Sweden, who served as Archbishop of Uppsala from 1967 until his death in 1972.[1]

Josefson was born in Svenljunga in the province of Västergötland. He enrolled at Uppsala University in 1926, became a graduate of theology there in 1931, theology licentiate in 1935, and doctor of theology in 1937. In 1940, he was ordained a priest.[1] He was a very strong proponent of allowing women to be ordained as ministers in the Church of Sweden.[2]

In 1945, he became the director of Fjellstedska Skolan, an educational institute for clergy and deacons in the Church of Sweden.[2] He was head of the school until 1958, when he appointed as Bishop of the Diocese of Härnösand. In this position he served until his appointment as Archbishop of Uppsala in 1967, a post he held until his death in 1972.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "P L Ruben Josefson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Namn att minnas: Ruben Josefsson" (PDF) (in Swedish). Svensk Tidskrift. 1959.

Other sources

  • Hansson, Klas (2014) Svenska kyrkans primas: Ärkebiskopsämbetet i förändring 1914–1990 (Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensi) ISBN 978-91-554-8897-0