Press release from the Nordic Asa-community Gamla Uppsala, April 4, 2025
The Pope Stone in Gamla Uppsala Has Now Been Removed – The Nordic Asa-Community Welcomes the Decision After a Long and Multi-Year Struggle
After a long and determined campaign by the Nordic Asa-Community and other advocates for the preservation of Sweden’s cultural and historical heritage, we have today received the joyful news that the Pope Stone in Gamla Uppsala has finally been removed. This marks an important victory for followers of Asatru, for our pagan cultural heritage, and a triumph in the struggle against the Catholic Church’s disrespectful intrusion upon our sacred sites. It is the result of many years of dedication and legal action that challenged this unlawful and historically treacherous installation at the Royal Mounds.
A Long and Difficult Struggle
Since June 9, 1989, the Pope Stone has stood as a disgrace upon the Royal Mounds, one of Sweden’s most significant and culturally rich sites. By placing the stone at this sacred location, the Catholic Church and Pope John Paul II desecrated an important ancient monument—one that holds great value not only for followers of Asatru and history enthusiasts but also for everyone who treasures Sweden’s cultural heritage.
The stone has not only been a disgrace to this sacred site but has also violated Swedish heritage laws and international conventions that protect our shared cultural heritage. This is why the Nordic Asa-Community has fought for years to have this unlawful and disrespectful installation removed. The stone was placed on state-owned land without permission from the relevant authorities, and we have repeatedly pointed out that no authority has ever been able to present any valid permit for its placement.
Damaged and without function
Recently, the stone has lost its original inscription and has become so damaged that it no longer serves any purpose at the site. It has become a disruptive element in a landscape of great cultural and historical significance to us followers of Asatru and to all who value the heritage of our ancestors. For us, the stone has become a symbol of how our cultural heritage has been diminished and disrespected, and a reminder of the persecution and marginalization we, as followers of Asatru, have faced.
The Nordic Asa-community has long advocated for the complete removal of this stone, as it does not belong at the Royal Mounds, a site that belongs to us followers of Asatru and to all who respect our shared cultural heritage.
This Is a Victory for Our Cultural Heritage and a Triumph Over the Catholic Church
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has stood by our side in this struggle, to all who have signed our petition, and to those who have contributed to making this day a reality. We see this as an important victory for followers of Asatru, for our ancestors, and for our pagan cultural heritage. This is a first step in reclaiming control over our sacred sites and ensuring that our cultural treasures are no longer exploited by foreign powers. Our heritage deserves respect and protection, and this removal proves that our struggle has not been in vain.
It is now time to restore Gamla Uppsala to its original state, and the decision to remove the Pope Stone is a crucial step in that process.
The Future of Gamla Uppsala
The Nordic Asa-community welcomes the removal of the Pope Stone, which no longer served any function at the Royal Mounds, and looks forward to Gamla Uppsala once again becoming a place that reflects the rich history that we all, regardless of faith or background, have a responsibility to preserve. We will continue to work to ensure that Gamla Uppsala, along with other important pagan and historical sites in Sweden, receives the protection they deserve.
We look forward to continuing our work in safeguarding and preserving our cultural heritage for future generations.
Hail Asatru!
Hail NAS/NAC!
Thor vigi!
The Nordic Asa-Community
