Irja Kaarina Askola (born 18 December 1952 in Lappeenranta, Finland) is the former Bishop of Helsinki.

[1] She started her theological studies at the University of Helsinki 1971 and continued them as an academic research assistant until 1981.

Askola has worked as an executive secretary for the Conference of European Churches, based in Geneva, Switzerland from 1991 to 1999.

He was assisted by other bishops from Finland (Matti Repo and Mikko Heikka from the Diocese of Espoo); Norway (Olav Skjevesland); Denmark (Elisabeth Dons Christensen) and Namibia (Thomas Shivute).

Several Finnish public figures were also present, including President Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi.