His Excellence, Mgr. Lode Aerts | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bruges | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Bruges |
| Appointed | 5 October 2016 |
| Predecessor | Jozef De Kesel |
| Previous post(s) | Canon ofSt-Bavon, Dean ofGhent |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 7 July 1984 |
| Consecration | 4 December 2016 by CardinalJozef De Kesel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lodewijk Aerts (1959-10-02)2 October 1959 (age 65) |
| Alma mater | Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Pontifical Gregorian University |
| Motto | Pretiosus in Oculis Suis (Precious in His eyes) |
| Coat of arms |  |
Lode Aerts (born 2 October 1959), identified also asLodewijk Aerts, is a Belgian prelate of theCatholic Church who has beenBishop of Bruges since December 2016.
Lode Aerts is a native ofGeraardsbergen,diocese of Ghent. He attended secondary school inEeklo and entered theDiocesan Seminary in Ghent in 1977. He studied philosophy at theKatholieke Universiteit Leuven and Theology at the diocesan seminary.[1] He was ordained priest on 7 July 1984 and in 1988 obtained a doctorate in theology at thePontifical Gregorian University. He taught at the seminary in Ghent from 1988 to 2002, when he became acanon ofSt Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, and the diocesan vicar for vocations. In the summer of 2016 he became dean of Ghent Cathedral.[2]
On 5 October 2016,Pope Francis appointed him to succeedJozef De Kesel as Bishop of Bruges.[3][4] As his motto he chosePretiosus in Oculis Suis (Precious in His eyes).[5] He was consecrated on 4 December by Cardinal de Kesel, in the Cathedral of Saint Saviour.[6]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Bruges 4 December 2016 – present | Succeeded by |
| Ecclesiastical Province of Mechelen–Brussels | |
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| International | |
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| National | |
