Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Mechelen–Brussel

Belgium Belgium

Map

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese, Primatial See of Belgium

Name: Mechelen–Brussel (Nederlands) / Mechelen–Brussels (English) / Malines–Bruxelles (français) / Mechlinien(sis)–Bruxellen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Antwerpen, Brugge, Gent, Hasselt, Liège, Namur, Tournai

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Rumoldus van Mechelen (July 1)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: April 28, September 12 (Brussel)

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

Contact Info

Address: Aartsbisdom, Wollemarkt 15, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgium

Phone: (015) 29.26.28

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2023.06.22 – ...):Archbishop Luc Terlinden (55)Archbishop Luc Terlinden (55)

Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium

Auxiliary Bishop (2011.02.22 – ...):Bishop Jean Kockerols (65)Bishop Jean Kockerols (65)

Titular Bishop of Ieper

Auxiliary Bishop (2018.05.18 – ...):Bishop Koenraad Vanhoutte (66)Bishop Koenraad Vanhoutte (66)

Titular Bishop of Thagora

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mechelen–Brussel (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Luc Terlinden (55)Archbishop Luc Terlinden (55)
(2023.06.22 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium)
Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium)
President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium

Fratelli tutti

Born:1968.10.17 (Etterbeek, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1999.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:2023.09.03

Priest of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (1999.09.18 – 2023.06.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (2023.06.22 – ...)

Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium) (2023.06.28 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (2023.10.12 – ...)

Cardinal Jozef De Kesel (76)Cardinal Jozef De Kesel (76)
(2015.11.06 – 2023.06.22)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo
Military Ordinary emeritus of Belgium (Belgium)

Vobiscum Christianus

Born:1947.06.17 (Gent, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1972.08.26
Consecrated Bishop:2002.05.26
Created Cardinal:2016.11.19

Priest of Gent (Belgium) (1972.08.26 – 2002.03.20)

Titular Bishop of Bulna (2002.03.20 – 2010.06.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (2002.03.20 – 2010.06.25)

Bishop of Brugge (Belgium) (2010.06.25 – 2015.11.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (2015.11.06 – 2023.06.22)

Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium) (2015.11.06 – 2023.06.28)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (2016.01.26 – 2023.10.12)

Cardinal-Priest of Ss. Giovanni e Paolo (2016.11.19 [2017.03.25] – ...)

Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard (84)Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard (André-Mutien) (84)
(2010.01.18 – 2015.11.06)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium)
Military Ordinary emeritus of Belgium (Belgium)
former President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium

Veni Domine Jesu / Oh oui, viens, Seigneur Jésus

Born:1940.05.06 (Jambes, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1964.07.19
Consecrated Bishop:1991.04.14

Priest of Namur (Belgium) (1964.07.19 – 1991.02.07)

Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1991.02.07 – 2010.01.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (2010.01.18 – 2015.11.06)

Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium) (2010.02.27 – 2015.11.06)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (2010.02.27 – 2015.11.06)

Cardinal Godfried Danneels
(1979.12.19 – 2010.01.18)

Apparuit humanitas Dei nostri

Born:1933.06.04 (Kanegem, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1957.08.17
Consecrated Bishop:1977.12.18
Created Cardinal:1983.02.02
Died:2019.03.14 (Malines, Belgium † 85)

Priest of Brugge (Belgium) (1957.08.17 – 1977.11.04)

Bishop of Antwerpen (Belgium) (1977.11.04 – 1979.12.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (1979.12.19 – 2010.01.18)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (1979.12.19 – 2010.01.18)

Military Vicar of Belgium (Belgium) (1980.09.15 – 1986.07.21)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Anastasia (1983.02.02 – 2019.03.14)

Military Ordinary of Belgium (Belgium) (1986.07.21 – 2010.01.18)

Cardinal Leo Jozef Suenens
(1961.12.09 – 1979.10.04)

In Spiritu Sancto

Born:1904.07.16 (Ixelles, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1927.09.04
Consecrated Bishop:1945.12.16
Created Cardinal:1962.03.19
Died:1996.05.06 (Brussels, Belgium † 91)

Titular Bishop of Isinda (1945.11.12 – 1961.11.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1945.11.12 – 1961.11.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1961.11.24 – 1961.12.09)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (1961.11.24 – 1979.10.04)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussel (Belgium) (1961.12.09 – 1979.10.04)

Military Vicar of Belgium (Belgium) (1962.02.02 – 1979.10.04)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli (1962.03.22 – 1996.05.06)

Metropolitan Archbishops of Mechelen (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Leo Jozef Suenens (later Cardinal)
(1961.11.24 – 1961.12.09)

(see above)

Cardinal Jozef-Ernest van Roey
(1925.03.12 – 1961.08.06)

In nomine Domini

Born:1874.01.13 (Vorselaar, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1897.09.18
Consecrated Bishop:1925.04.25
Created Cardinal:1927.06.20
Died:1961.08.06 (Mechelen, Belgium † 87)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1925.03.12 – 1961.08.06)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Ara Coeli (1927.06.23 – 1961.08.06)

Military Vicar of Belgium (Belgium) (1957 – 1961.08.06)

President of Episcopal Conference of Belgium (1958 – 1961.08.06)

Protopriest of Sacred College of Cardinals (1958.03.29 – 1961.08.06)

Cardinal Désiré-Félicien-François-Joseph Mercier
(1906.02.07 – 1925.03.12)

Apostolus Jesu Christi

Born:1851.11.21 (Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1874.04.04
Consecrated Bishop:1906.03.25
Created Cardinal:1907.04.15
Died:1926.01.23 (Brussels, Belgium † 74)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1906.02.07 – 1925.03.12)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli (1907.04.18 – 1926.01.23)

Cardinal Pierre-Lambert Goossens
(1884.03.24 – 1906.01.25)

Omnia et in omnibus Christus

Born:1827.07.18 (Perk, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1850.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:1883.06.24
Created Cardinal:1889.05.24
Died:1906.01.25 (Mechelen, Belgium † 78)

Titular Bishop of Abdera (1883.06.01 – 1883.07.16)

Coadjutor Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1883.06.01 – 1883.07.16)

Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1883.07.16 – 1884.03.24)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1884.03.24 – 1906.01.25)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme (1889.05.27 – 1906.01.25)

Cardinal Victor-Auguste-Isidore Dechamps, C.SS.R.
(1867.12.20 – 1883.09.29)

Per via cœli porta manes

Born:1810.12.06 (Melle, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1834.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:1865.10.01
Created Cardinal:1875.03.15
Died:1883.09.29 (Mechelen, Belgium † 72)

Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1865.09.25 – 1867.12.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1867.12.20 – 1883.09.29)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme (1875.03.31 – 1883.09.29)

Cardinal Engelbert Sterckx
(1832.02.24 – 1867.12.04)

Pax vobis

Born:1792.11.02 (Ophem, Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1815.02.18
Consecrated Bishop:1832.04.08
Created Cardinal:1838.09.13
Died:1867.12.04 (Mechelen, Belgium † 75)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1832.02.24 – 1867.12.04)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (1838.09.17 – 1867.12.04)

Protopriest of Sacred College of Cardinals (1866.03.20 – 1867.12.04)

Archbishop François-Antoine-Marie de Méan
(1817.07.28 – 1831.01.15)

Domine non recuso laborem

Born:1756.07.06 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1785.09.17
Consecrated Bishop:1786.02.19
Died:1831.01.15 († 74)

Titular Bishop of Hippus (1785.12.19 – 1792.09.24)

Auxiliary Bishop of Liège (Belgium) (1785.12.19 – 1792.09.24)

Bishop of Liège (Belgium) ([1792.08.16] 1792.09.24 – 1802.04.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Ravenstein–Megen (Netherlands) ([1801.04.15] 1802.04.18 – 1831.01.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1817.07.28 – 1831.01.15)

Archbishop Dominique-Georges-Frédéric Dufour de Pradt
(1809.03.27 – 1815.08.05)

Born:1759.04.23 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:1805.02.02
Died:1837.03.18 († 77)

Bishop of Poitiers (France) ([1804.12.17] 1805.02.01 – 1808.05.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) ([1808.05.12] 1809.03.27 – 1815.08.05)

Archbishop Jean-Armand de Bessuéjouls Roquelaure
(1802.04.14 – 1808.03.01)

Born:1721.02.24 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:1754.06.16
Died:1818.04.23 († 97)

Bishop of Senlis (France) ([1754.03.17] 1754.05.20 – 1801.09.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) ([1802.04.09] 1802.04.14 – 1808.03.01)

Cardinal Johann Heinrich von Frankenberg
(1759.05.28 – 1802.04.18)

Born:1726.09.18 (Poland)
Ordained Priest:1749.08.10
Consecrated Bishop:1759
Created Cardinal:1778.06.01
Died:1804.06.11 († 77)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1759.05.28 – 1802.04.18)

Cardinal-Priest with no Title assigned (1778.06.01 – 1804.06.11)

Cardinal Thomas Philip Wallrad d’Hénin-Liétard d’Alsace-Boussu de Chimay
(1715.12.16 – 1759.01.05)

Born:1679.11.12 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:1702.10.15
Consecrated Bishop:1716.01.19
Created Cardinal:1719.11.29
Died:1759.01.05 († 79)

Bishop of Ieper (1713.10.11 – 1715.12.16 not possessed)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1715.12.16 – 1759.01.05)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Cesareo in Palatio pro hac vice Title (1721.06.16 – 1733.12.02)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Balbina (1733.12.02 – 1752.07.17)

Protopriest of Sacred College of Cardinals (1752.06.26 – 1759.01.05)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Lucina (1752.07.17 – 1759.01.05)

Archbishop Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano
(1690.05.08 – 1711.06.09)

Non in gladio sed in nomine Domini

Born:1627.09.12 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:1683.03.21
Died:1711.06.09 († 83)

Bishop of Brugge (Belgium) (1682.12.07 – 1690.05.08)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) ([1689.07.12] 1690.05.08 – 1711.06.09)

Archbishop Alphonse de Berghes
(1670.11.17 – 1689.06.07)

Born:1624.09.09 (Belgium)
Died:1689.06.07 († 64)

Bishop of Tournai (Belgium) (1667.07.02 – 1667 not possessed)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1670.11.17 – 1689.06.07)

Archbishop Jean Wachtendonck
(1668.04.19 – 1668.06.25)

Born:1592 (Belgium)
Died:1668.06.25 († 75)

Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1654.10.05 – 1668.04.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1668.04.19 – 1668.06.25)

Archbishop Andreas Creusen
(1657.06.01 – 1666.11.08)

Victrix fortunæ patientia

Born:1591 (Netherlands)
Died:1666.11.08 († 74)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1651.05.22 – 1657.06.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1657.06.01 – 1666.11.08)

Archbishop Jacob Boonen
(1621.11.26 – 1655.06.30)

Vince in bono

Born:1573.10.11 (Belgium)
Died:1655.06.30 († 81)

Bishop of Gent (Belgium) (1616.11.28 – 1621.11.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1621.11.26 – 1655.06.30)

Archbishop Mathias van den Hove
(1596 – 1620)

Born:1542
Died:1620 († 78)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1596 – 1620)

Cardinal William Allen
(1589 – 1594.10.16 not possessed)

Born:1532 (England)
Ordained Priest:1565
Created Cardinal:1587.08.07
Died:1594.10.16 († 61)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Martino ai Monti (1587.08.31 – 1594.10.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1589 – 1594.10.16 not possessed)

Librarian of Vatican Apostolic Library (1590 – 1594.10.16)

Bishop Liévin van der Beken
(1589 – 1589 not possessed)

Died:1595.04.26

Bishop of Antwerpen (Belgium) (1586.10.27 – 1595.04.26)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1589 – 1589 not possessed)

Archbishop Joannes Hauchin
(1583 – 1589.01.11)

Born:1527
Died:1589.01.11 († 61)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1583 – 1589.01.11)

Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvella
(1561.03.10 – 1583.01.24)

Constanter

Born:1517.08.26 (France)
Ordained Priest:1540
Consecrated Bishop:1542.05.21
Created Cardinal:1561.02.26
Died:1586.09.21 († 69)

Bishop of Arras (France) (1538.11.29 – 1561.03.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1561.03.10 – 1583.01.24)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Bartolomeo all’Isola (1562.07.06 – 1568.05.14)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Prisca (1568.05.14 – 1570.02.10)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Anastasia (1570.02.10 – 1570.06.09)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli (1570.06.09 – 1578.07.09)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria in Trastevere (1578.07.09 – 1578.10.03)

Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina (1578.10.03 – 1586.09.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Besançon (France) ([1584.06.25] 1584.11.14 – 1586.09.21)

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Tournai (↙), Gent (↖), Antwerpen (↑), Hasselt (→), Liège (↘), Namur (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 3,635 km²

Population: 1,931,000 Catholics (63.9% of 3,022,681 total)

Pastoral Centres: 573 parishes

Personnel: 1,458 priests (452 diocesan, 1,006 religious), 88 deacons, 2,328 religious (1,253 brothers, 1,075 sisters), 13 seminarians

Population

Pastoral Centres

Priests

Deacons

Religious

Seminarians

Last updated on 2024.05.19

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