New Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels choses 'Fratelli tutti' as his motto. He wants "an open Church with ambition and more attention to people"

54-year-old Luc Terlinden has been Vicar General for the archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels since 1 September 2021. Pope Francis appointed him archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels on Thursday. He wants to work towards "an open Church with ambition and more attention to people".

The episcopal consecration and taking possession of the archdiocesan seat will take place on Sunday 3 September at 3pm in Mechelen's Saint Rombouts Cathedral. Cardinal De Kesel will preside over that ceremony. He will become administrator of the Archdiocese.

De Kesel reiterated several times how pleased he is with his successor, whom he called a "deeply religious but open man" who is "convinced of a deep form of humanity". He stressed that he had got to know Terlinden well over the past two years and that he had been a 'great help and support'.

The Etterbeek-born Terlinden says he already realised what question would come when he received the phone last Sunday. 'I knew the conversation would not be about the Red Devils (Belgium football team),' he jokes. After Mass that day, he had already made his decision to say yes to the question of becoming archbishop.

The new Archbishop chose 'Fratelli tutti' as his episcopal motto, because he attaches great importance to brotherhood. To this end, he was inspired by Pope Francis, who issued an encyclical on the subject, but also by Saint Charles de Foucauld. They 'through the total gift of their lives to God, made this universal brotherhood visible by staying close to precisely the smallest and most abandoned', Terlinden explains.

He says he still wants to focus on the community and the faithful, and give more responsibilities to women. He wants to work towards 'an open church with ambition and more focus on people'.

Rome

Next week, Terlinden travels to Rome, where he will receive the pallium from Pope Francis on 29 June. This is a symbol of special ecclesiastical authority. The pallium is a woollen shoulder strap, a liturgical badge of honour that counts as a symbol of papal power and of the church provinces' attachment to the Holy See. It is a white band, decorated with black crosses, worn around the shoulders. Only the pope and archbishops are allowed to wear a pallium. The pope may do so everywhere, the archbishops only within their church province.

De Kesel had been archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels since the end of 2015. He already offered his resignation as archbishop to Pope Francis in June last year. He did so because he had reached the emeritus age of 75, as required by canon law. He has since turned 76, his resignation has been accepted and a successor has now been appointed.

Incidentally, this is the first time in almost a century (since Cardinal Van Roey in 1926) that a priest who is not yet a bishop has been appointed archbishop.

Source

Cathcon: Time of choosing an open church or the Catholic Church.