Cardinal Jozef De Kesel, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Mechelen-Brussel (Belgium), Military Ordinary Emeritus of Belgium, was born 17 June 1947 in Ghent, East Flanders, in the eponymous diocese.

He was ordained a priest on 26 August 1972, for the Diocese of Ghent.

He obtained his doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome with the dissertation: “Le refus décidé de l’objectivation. Une interprétation du Jésus historique dans la théologie chez Rudolf Bultmann” and is the author of numerous articles and a book on the Church and various aspects of Christian life.  He has served as a lecturer at the seminary of Ghent, in a training centre for future teachers of religion and at the University of Leuven.  He speaks French, Dutch, English and Italian.

Elected to the titular see of Bulna and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Mechelen-Brussel on 20 March 2002, he was consecrated on 26 May of the same year.  From 2002 to 2010 he served as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Brussels.  In 2010 he assumed the role of Vicar General of the Vicariate of Flemish Brabant and the Mechelen area.

On 25 June 2010, he was appointed Bishop of Brugge.

On 6 November 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels (Malines-Bruxelles), Belgium, and Military Ordinary for Belgium.

Since January 2016, he served as President of the Episcopal Conference of Belgium.

On 22 June 2023, the Holy Father accepted Cardinal De Kesel’s resignation from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel and, on 28 June of the same year, from the pastoral care of the Military Ordinariate.

He was created and proclaimed a Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 19 November 2016, and was assigned the titular church Santi Giovanni e Paolo.

Member of:

• Dicastery for Culture and Education.