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Born in Småland and raised in Skåne, both counties in southern Sweden, Peter Hjorth enjoyed a childhood marked by peace and prosperity. Benefiting from the well developed welfare systems in Sweden, supported by taxpayers, he received free education and healthcare, and always had a roof over his head and food to eat. Raised by loving parents alongside two older brothers, Peter Hjorth pursued studies in economics and theology at university.
In 2006, Peter became a priest in the Church of Sweden. His first encounter with refugees occurred during school and church, meeting people from Vietnam. During his university studies, Peter began supporting refugees in their interactions with authorities and fostering social cohesion, a commitment that has continued for the past 25 years.
From 2016 to 2020, Peter Hjorth worked full-time with the Migration Support Team at the Diocese of Lund, Church of Sweden. During this period, his focus was on providing psychosocial support and educating and training staff in several congregations within the diocese. It was during this time that Peter connected with A World of Neighbours (AWoN), joining the network after an interview with late Dirk Ficca in the summer of 2021.
Currently, Peter Hjorth serves as a priest and manager in the Fosie congregation in Malmö, where a significant part of the population has a refugee background and practices various faiths. In this community, where the Church of Sweden is a minority, interreligious work and social cohesion are vital. Peter believes that the only way forward is to genuinely embrace being a world of neighbours.
