For a country where most people grow up in the Lutheran state church (Den norske kirke), seeing one of our biggest athletes with a Catholic rosary feels surprising.
What Haaland is wearing
The necklace has black beads and a cross. Many Catholics immediately recognized it as a rosary (rosenkransen). Even if Haaland doesn’t know every detail of the devotion, the image has gone viral — and thousands of people are now googling “What is a rosary?”
A rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer tool made of beads. It usually has groups of 10 small beads (for Hail Mary prayers) separated by larger beads (for the Our Father). Catholics use it to meditate on the life of Jesus and Mary. Note: The necklace Haaland is wearing appears to have only 8 beads per group, which is not the standard Catholic rosary.
So what does the Catholic Church actually teach?
Here are the clear differences that many Norwegians have never heard:
- Women priests? No. The Catholic Church has never ordained women as priests and still doesn’t. This is not “old-fashioned” — it follows the example of Jesus choosing only men as His apostles.
- Rainbow flags in church? No. Catholic churches focus on the cross of Christ, not political symbols. The Church welcomes everyone but does not change its teaching on marriage and sexuality to match modern culture.
- Priests at Pride parades? No. Catholic priests do not march in Pride events because the Church teaches that sexual activity belongs only in marriage between one man and one woman. Love the person — yes. Celebrate the lifestyle — no.
These positions are not hate. They are ancient Christian teaching that the Catholic Church has protected for 2,000 years, while many Protestant churches (including large parts of the Norwegian church) have changed with society.
Why Norwegians should care
Most people in Norway today are secular. They see the Lutheran church as “nice but irrelevant.” Many feel something is missing — beauty, truth, discipline, real community.
The Catholic faith offers exactly that:
- Ancient liturgy that feels sacred
- Clear teachings that don’t change with trends
- Devotions like the rosary that millions of young people worldwide are rediscovering
- Saints like Carlo Acutis — a gamer who became a saint in our digital age
Haaland wore a Viking helmet and a Christian necklace on the same day. That powerful mix of old Norse strength and Christian faith is exactly what Norway once was. If you’re a fan of Haaland, maybe it’s time to explore the full Christian roots of our Viking ancestors — the Catholic faith that first brought light to the North.
