Military Ordinariate of Belgium

Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction

Military Ordinariate of Belgium Dutch: Bisdom bij de Krijgsmacht French: Diocèse aux Forces armées belges

Church of St. James on Coudenberg
Location
Country	Belgium
Ecclesiastical province	Immediately exempt to the Holy See
Statistics
Parishes	1
Churches	1
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Latin Church
Rite	Roman Rite
Established	7 September 1957 (67 years ago)
Cathedral	Church of St. James on Coudenberg
Secular priests	11
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Archbishop	Luc Terlinden
Website
Diocèse aux forces armées

The Military Ordinariate of Belgium (Dutch: Bisdom bij de Krijgsmacht, French: Diocèse aux Forces armées belges) is a Latin Church military ordinariate of the Catholic Church in Belgium. Immediately exempt to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Catholics serving in the Belgian Armed Forces and their families.

History

The Military Ordinariate of Belgium was established as a military vicariate on 7 September 1957, and elevated to a military ordinariate on 21 July 1986. The Military Ordinary's seat is located at the Church of St. James on Coudenberg in Brussels. The post of Military Ordinary is vested in the Archbishop of Mechelen–Brussels and Primate of Belgium.

Office holders

Military vicars

Jozef-Ernest van Roey (appointed 1957 – died 6 August 1961)
Leo Jozef Suenens (appointed 24 November 1961 – retired 1979)
Godfried Danneels (appointed 15 September 1980 – became military ordinary 21 July 1986)

Military ordinaries

Godfried Danneels (21 July 1986 – 27 February 2010)
André-Joseph Léonard (27 February 2010 – 6 November 2015)
Josef De Kesel (6 November 2015 – 28 June 2023)
Luc Terlinden (28 June 2023 – present)

References

Army Chaplaincy
Military Ordinariate of Belgium (Catholic-Hierarchy)
Bisdom bij de Krijgsmacht / Diocèse aux Forces armées belges (Belgium) (GCatholic.org)

v t e Catholic Church in Belgium
Episcopal Conference of Belgium
Dioceses	Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussels Diocese of Antwerp Diocese of Bruges Diocese of Ghent Diocese of Hasselt Diocese of Liège Diocese of Namur Diocese of Tournai
Others	Military Ordinariate of Belgium Titular sees: Tongeren Ypres Former sees: Ancient Diocese of Thérouanne Diocese of Eupen-Malmedy Ordinariate for foreign students in Belgium
Churches	List of Catholic churches in Belgium Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp St. Salvator's Cathedral, Bruges Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent St. Quentin Cathedral, Hasselt Liège Cathedral St. Rumbold's Cathedral, Mechelen St Aubin's Cathedral, Namur Tournai Cathedral
Education	List of Catholic schools in Belgium Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Université catholique de Louvain Université de Namur
Monasteries	Affligem Abbey Averbode Abbey Bethlehem Abbey, Bonheiden Bois-Seigneur-Isaac Abbey Bornem Abbey Brecht Abbey Chevetogne Abbey Chimay Abbey Dendermonde Abbey Drongen Abbey Ermeton Abbey Grimbergen Abbey Keizersberg Abbey Klaarland Priory Maredret Abbey Maredsous Abbey Monasterium Magnificat Orval Abbey Park Abbey Postel Abbey Rochefort Abbey Roosenberg Abbey St. Andrew's Abbey, Bruges St. Sixtus' Abbey St. Trudo's Abbey, Bruges Scourmont Abbey Soleilmont Abbey Ten Putte Abbey Tongerlo Abbey Val-Dieu Abbey Westmalle Abbey
See also	List of saints of Belgium List of Catholic seminaries in Belgium Apostolic Nunciature to Belgium Kerknet Chiro Flanders CICM Missionaries La Pairelle Our Lady of Beauraing Our Lady of Banneux
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v t e Military ordinariates of the Catholic Church
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