# Lode Van Hecke

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**Lode Van Hecke** [OCSO](/source/OCSO) (born 16 March 1950) is a Belgian Catholic prelate who was [Bishop of Ghent](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Ghent) from 2019 to 2025. He was abbot of [Orval Abbey](/source/Orval_Abbey) from 2007 to November 2019. A monk since 1976, he is the only Trappist ever to be appointed bishop of a Belgian diocese.[1]

## Life

Van Hecke was born in [Roeselare](/source/Roeselare) in [West Flanders](/source/West_Flanders) on 16 March 1950. After graduating from secondary school he spent a year at Bruges seminary and then studied philosophy at [KU Leuven](/source/KU_Leuven). He interrupted his studies for military service and became secretary to the head chaplain of the Belgian army. He returned to KU Leuven and earned his licenciate in philosophy with a dissertation on [A. N. Whitehead](/source/A._N._Whitehead).[2][3] On 24 September 1976 he entered Orval Abbey and took his final vows as a Trappist on 6 March 1983. He obtained the degree of [Licentiate of Sacred Theology](/source/Licentiate_of_Sacred_Theology) from KU Leuven in 1988, with a thesis on [Bernard of Clairvaux](/source/Bernard_of_Clairvaux),[4] and was ordained to the priesthood on 20 August 1995.[2][5]

At Orval he served as [novice master](/source/Novice_master) from 1990 to 1998, [brewery director](/source/Orval_Brewery) from 1998 to 2001, and [prior](/source/Prior_(ecclesiastical)) and [bursar](/source/Bursar) from 2000 to 2002. He left the Abbey to work as secretary to the Abbot General of the [Cistercians](/source/Cistercians) in Rome from 2002 to 2004. Returning to Orval, in 2005 he became guestmaster. He was elected Abbot of Orval on 25 January 2007 and installed on 2 June.[2][5]

[Pope Francis](/source/Pope_Francis) appointed him bishop of Ghent on 27 November 2019.[2][6] He received his episcopal consecration from [Jozef De Kesel](/source/Jozef_De_Kesel), Archbishop of [Mechelen-Brussels](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Mechelen-Brussels), on 23 February 2020 in a service attended by [Queen Paola](/source/Queen_Paola) and representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities; [Trappist beer](/source/Trappist_beer) was served at the reception that followed.[7]

On 16 March 2025, having reached the age of 75, he tendered his resignation as bishop.[8] [Pope Leo XIV](/source/Pope_Leo_XIV) accepted his resignation on 30 June 2025.

## Writings

- *Le désir dans l'expérience religieuse. L'homme réunifié. Relecture de saint Bernard*. Paris: Cerf. 1990. ISBN 978-2204042109.
- *Méditer avec Saint Bernard*. Paris: Salvator. 2015. ISBN 978-2706712159.

## References

1. ["Primeur in Belgische kerk: trappistenmonnik Lode Van Hecke is nieuwe bisschop van Gent"](https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/primeur-in-belgische-kerk-trappistenmonnik-lode-van-hecke-is-nieuwe-bisschop-van-gent~b193290c/) (in Dutch). *[De Morgen](/source/De_Morgen)*. 27 Nov 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.

1. ["Resignations and Appointments, 27.11.2019"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/11/27/191127d.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). 27 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.

1. Lode Van Hecke, *De notie subjectief doel in de filosofie van A. N. Whitehead* (dissertation, KU Leuven, 1975).

1. Lode Van Hecke, *Criteria voor het onderscheiden van een authentieke religieuze ervaring volgens Bernardus van Clairvaux in het licht van de hedendaagse antropologie: studie van de Brieven en sermoenen De Diversis* (dissertation, KU Leuven, 1988)

1. Geert Lesage (27 Nov 2019). ["Abt Lode Van Hecke wordt 31ste bisschop van Gent"](https://www.kerknet.be/bisschoppenconferentie/artikel/abt-lode-van-hecke-wordt-31ste-bisschop-van-gent) (in Dutch). *[Kerknet](/source/Kerknet)*. Retrieved 28 November 2019.

1. ["Lode Van Hecke nieuwe bisschop van Gent"](https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20191127_04740216) (in Dutch). *[De Standaard](/source/De_Standaard)*. 27 Nov 2019.

1. Sabine Van Damme (23 Feb 2020). ["Lode Van Hecke onder massale belangstelling tot bisschop gewijd"](https://www.hln.be/in-de-buurt/gent/lode-van-hecke-onder-massale-belangstelling-tot-bisschop-gewijd~a1c28d92/) (in Dutch). *[Het Laatste Nieuws](/source/Het_Laatste_Nieuws)*

1. Valérie Kabergs (16 March 2025). ["'Het monnik zijn nam ik al die tijd met me mee': bisschop Lode Van Hecke is 75 en dient ontslag in"](https://www.otheo.be/artikel/monnik-zijn-nam-tijd-mee-bisschop-lode-hecke-75-dient-ontslag). *[Otheo](/source/Otheo)*

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lode Van Hecke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lode_Van_Hecke) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lode_Van_Hecke?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.