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The Old Country Newsletter – Fred & Europa
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
May 09, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, May 9.
Today, we send a hearty congratulations to our American readers on the election of the first American Pope! While Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius — whom you may remember from earlier editions of this newsletter — was in the running, we’re not bitter. Not at all.
Here in southern Sweden, spring has truly arrived. The trees are bursting into green, and the days are finally stretching out. Wherever this newsletter finds you, we hope you're getting a taste of spring’s renewal, too.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Your Weekly Swede-ish
Attribution: Warner Brothers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Candice Bergen
Candice Bergen is an American actress and former fashion model, best known for her iconic role as sharp-witted journalist Murphy Brown in the acclaimed television series of the same name. Originally airing from 1988 to 1998, and revived in 2018, Murphy Brown earned Bergen five Emmy Awards and cemented her status as a television legend. She was born on May 9, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California, the daughter of famed ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and model Frances Westerman.
Bergen's paternal grandparents were Swedish immigrants who anglicized their surname, which was originally Berggren, meaning "mountain branch." The Swedish heritage has remained a point of interest in her family history and adds a unique cultural dimension to her background.
Bergen began her career as a model before transitioning to acting in the 1960s, with early film roles in The Group (1966) and Carnal Knowledge (1971). She demonstrated a remarkable range, balancing dramatic and comedic roles with ease. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in a number of films, but it was television that brought her widespread fame and cultural impact. Murphy Brown became a symbol of female empowerment, with Bergen’s performance praised for its wit, intelligence, and strength.
Beyond acting, Bergen is also a published author, having written well-received memoirs. Known for her intellect, humor, and advocacy for gender equality, Candice Bergen remains one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring figures.
Statistics you didn’t ask for
With the election of a new pope yesterday, attention turns to Catholic communities worldwide—including Sweden, where Catholicism, though a minority faith, has been steadily growing.
As of 2023, the Catholic Church in Sweden officially counts 129,526 registered members, comprising approximately 1.2% of the nation's population. However, church leaders estimate the actual number of Catholics to be significantly higher, potentially exceeding 200,000, due to unregistered immigrants and others who participate in Catholic life without formal membership.
This growth is largely attributed to immigration from Catholic-majority countries in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. In fact, the Catholic Church is now considered Sweden’s fastest-growing Christian denomination.
The Catholic Church in Sweden operates as a single diocese—the Diocese of Stockholm—led by Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the first Swedish-born cardinal in history.
Kristersson Slams Security Advisor Scandal as a “System Failure”
Attribution: Omni
STOCKHOLM — Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson didn’t mince words after his newly appointed national security advisor Tobias Thyberg resigned just hours into the job, calling the situation both “serious” and “a system failure.”
Thyberg, unveiled earlier this week as Sweden’s top security official, stepped aside the same day following the emergence of sensitive images previously shared on a dating site. According to Kristersson, key details that would have disqualified Thyberg from passing a security screening were withheld. “This is serious. Obviously, he cannot remain in the role,” Kristersson told TV4 from a regional defense meeting in Oslo. Speaking to Dagens Nyheter, he added, “It’s a system failure that this information didn’t come to light.”
Inside sources are reportedly furious. Svenska Dagbladet cites senior Moderates questioning how vetting could have failed so spectacularly. “People are pissed off and asking how the hell these recruitments are handled,” one insider said.
The criticism isn’t limited to Thyberg’s misstep—Kristersson’s own leadership circle is under fire. Longtime aide Johan Stuart is being named in whispers, and several in the party are now calling for a rethink of the tight-knit, relatively inexperienced group around the PM. Kristersson’s prestige project, it seems, just took a major credibility hit.
In other news
🗳️ Sweden’s Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari, 29, declined to comment on being nominated as the next Liberal Party leader, telling Expressen that the selection process hasn’t even begun. She stated that potential candidates’ intentions will become clear once the party’s nomination committee starts its work.
🕯️ One woman is dead and another injured following two violent attacks in Västerås on Friday, with the suspected perpetrator—who had a prior relationship with the victims—now in custody and hospitalized with unknown injuries. The incidents, investigated as murder and attempted murder, prompted a major police operation and a public warning urging residents to stay indoors.
👕 Since the new textile recycling law took effect in Sweden, many clothing collection bins have overflowed due to a sharp increase in donations. In Borlänge, the issue has been addressed by hiring extra staff and deploying a large container, while the main collection partner, Human Bridge, has struggled to manage the 80% surge in volume.
Would you like to feel closer to Sweden? A perfect way to do that would be to have a look at Swedish broadcasts, either current or past. SVT Play is an online streaming service provided by Sveriges Television (SVT), the Swedish national public television broadcaster.
To watch it, one has to be in Sweden – or have access to a VPN provider that can connect to a remote server located in Sweden. Like NordVPN, which sponsors this segment of the newsletter.
By using NordVPN, you can access what SVT Play has to offer – including current news, documentaries about emigrants, live broadcasts from nature events, and much more – by simply connecting to a server in Sweden. Follow the link here to get 74 % off for your first two years and three months (!) of usage. By doing so, you also help support the distribution of this newsletter.
SVT Doc Brings WWII-Era Sweden to Life Through First-Hand Accounts
Attribution: Wikimedia Commons
Eighty years after the end of World War II, SVT is turning the spotlight on how everyday Swedes experienced those tense, uncertain years — not through historians, but through the people who lived it.
The broadcaster’s ambitious new documentary series, Sverige och kriget (“Sweden and the War”), draws from thousands of letters, photos, films, and diaries submitted by the public. The result is a deeply personal retelling of wartime Sweden — a country technically neutral, but emotionally on edge. “People have shared memories of courage, fear, love, and betrayal. It opens our eyes and resonates with our world today,” said Kristina Lindström, one of the series’ producers.
Among those featured is Astrid Uhnér from Gnosjö, who was just eight when the war broke out. “I stood straight up and screamed,” she recalls. Meiron Gustafsson of Trollhättan remembers sensing deep fear in the adults around her. And on May 7, 1945, Tage Nilsson, then 18, celebrated peace on Stockholm’s Kungsgatan as confetti rained from windows and strangers danced in the street.
Sweden did not take part in the war. But every day Swedes still felt the effects of it. The series doesn’t just preserve history — it humanizes it, letting today’s generation hear the echoes of war in the voices of those who lived through it.
Word of the week
EUROPA [Eh-ROH-pah]
May 9th - Europe Day
Attribution: Francois Schnell, via Wikimedia Commons
Today is May 9th. It was on this date in 1950 that French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman presented his famous proposal for a united Europe, a declaration that laid the foundation for what we know today as the European Union. For this reason, we celebrate Europe Day as a reminder of the journey from war and division to cooperation and unity.
Sweden’s place in Europe throughout history has been marked by a fascinating transformation, from being a largely unknown kingdom on the remote northern fringes of the continent to becoming a significant player on the European stage. This evolution has shaped both the country's identity and its relationships with neighboring nations and Europe as a whole.
During the Viking Age, Sweden made its first bold steps onto the European scene, launching expeditions that instilled fear across many parts of the continent and even reached as far as the rivers of modern-day Turkey.
In the Middle Ages, Sweden was part of the Nordic community, alongside countries like Denmark and Norway. This era was characterized by eastern expansion toward the Baltic and involvement in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire. Through trade and cultural exchange, Sweden gradually became more integrated into the European sphere.
The 17th century marked Sweden’s era as a great power, with political and military expansion under kings like Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII. This was a time of warfare and diplomacy that not only redrew borders but also positioned Sweden as a major force from the Baltic to Germany and Poland.
After the Great Northern War in the 18th century, in which Sweden lost its territories beyond the Baltic Sea, the country entered a period of political stability and internal development. The 19th century saw peaceful industrialization and democratic reforms that solidified Sweden’s role as a stable and neutral actor in Europe.
In the 20th century, Sweden played an active role in international organizations such as the League of Nations and later the United Nations. A policy of neutrality during both World Wars and the Cold War defined Sweden's international stance and its peaceful relationships with neighboring countries. Its neutrality, combined with proactive diplomacy, contributed to Europe’s economic recovery and peace.
After World War II, Sweden became an important part of Europe’s economic collaboration through its involvement with the European Economic Community (EEC) and later its accession to the European Union. This marked a new chapter of deeper integration, while still preserving national identity and cultural heritage.
Today, Sweden remains a stable democracy and a leading economy within the EU. The country contributes to European security, peace, and welfare through international missions, diplomatic engagement, and economic support. Sweden’s place in Europe is now defined by cooperation, mutual respect, and a firm commitment to building a sustainable and peaceful future for the continent.
From raiding to alliance, from strangers to neighbors, from war to peace, that is why we celebrate this day.