The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Lodewijk Aerts as bishop of Bruges (area 3,145, population 1,178,265, Catholics 968,000, priests 672, permanent deacons 92, religious 1,860), Belgium. The bishop-elect was born in 1959 in Geraardsbergen, Belgium and was ordained a priest in 1984. He holds a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and has served in a number of pastoral roles including professor of various subjects in the seminary of Ghent, episcopal vicar for youth pastoral and episcopal vicar for vocations, education and formation. Since 2002 he has been dean and canon of the cathedral of Ghent and, since 2016, dean of the city of Ghent.