{{Short description|Dutch Catholic prelate (born 1953)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = cardinal | honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence]] | name = Willem Jacobus Eijk | honorific-suffix = | title = {{Ubl | [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Archbishop of Utrecht]] | [[Primate (bishop)|Primate of the Netherlands]] }} | image = Willem Eijk (2020).jpg | imagesize = | alt = | caption = Cardinal Eijk in 2020 | church = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | archdiocese = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Utrecht]] | province = | metropolis = | diocese = | appointed = 11 December 2007 | term_start = 26 January 2008 | ended = | predecessor = [[Adrianus Johannes Simonis]] | opposed = | successor = | other_post = {{Ubil | [[Bishops' Conference of the Netherlands|President of the Bishops' Conference of the Netherlands]] | [[San Callisto|Cardinal-Priest of San Callisto]] (2012{{nbnd}}present) }} | ordination = 1 June 1985 | ordained_by = [[Joannes Baptist Matthijs Gijsen]] | consecration = 6 November 1999 | consecrated_by = [[Adrianus Johannes Simonis]] | cardinal = 18 February 2012 | created_cardinal_by = [[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]] | rank = [[Cardinal-Priest]] | previous_post = {{ubil|[[Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden|Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden]] (1999{{nbnd}}2007)}}<!-- using {{ubil}} to enable an indented format, even though there is only one item in the list --> <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Willem Jacobus Eijk | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|06|22|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Duivendrecht]], Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | residence = | parents = | education = {{ubil | [[University of Amsterdam]] (Medicine) | [[Rolduc]] (Seminary) | [[Leiden University]] (MD, Medicine) | [[Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)|Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas]] (PhD, Philosophy) | [[Pontifical Lateran University]] (Licentiate, Theology) }} | signature = | motto = {{Langnf|la|Noli Recusare Laborem|Do Not Reject the Work|break=yes}} | coat_of_arms = <!-- coat of arms is already displayed below in "infobox cardinal styles"; no need to repeat it here--> }} {{Infobox cardinal styles | dipstyle = [[His Eminence]] | offstyle = [[Your Eminence]] | relstyle = [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] | image = Coat of arms of Willem Jacobus Eijk.svg | image_size = 200px }} {{Ordination | denomination = Catholic | ordained deacon by = [[Joannes Baptist Matthijs Gijsen]] | date of diaconal ordination = 1984 | place of diaconal ordination = [[Kerkrade]], Netherlands | ordained priest by = Joannes Baptist Matthijs Gijsen | date of priestly ordination = 1985 | place of priestly ordination = [[Roermond]], Netherlands | consecrated by = [[Adrianus Johannes Simonis]] | co-consecrators = {{Ubl | {{ill|Franciscus Jozef Maria Wiertz|nl|v=ib|nobold=y}}, | [[Sergio Utleg|Sergio Lasam Utleg]] }} | date of consecration = 6 November 1999 | bishop 1 = {{ill|Herman Woorts|nl|v=ib|nobold=y}} | consecration date 1 = 2010 | bishop 2 = {{ill|Ted Hoogenboom|nl|v=ib|nobold=y}} | consecration date 2 = 2010 | bishop 3 = [[Ronald Cornelissen]] | consecration date 3 = 2025 | sources = <ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] |publisher=David M. Cheney |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/beijk.html |title=Willem Jacobus Cardinal Eijk |date=11 October 2025}}</ref> }}
'''Willem Jacobus "Wim" Eijk''' (born 22 June 1953) is a Dutch [[prelate]] of the [[Catholic Church]], a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] since 2012. He has been the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht]] since 2007. He was [[Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden|Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden]] from 1999 to 2007. Before his clerical career, he worked as a medical doctor; as a priest, he made medical ethics the focus of his academic studies. He has done his doctoral studies in [[medicine]] and [[philosophy]], and also holds a [[Licentiate (pontifical degree)|licentiate]] in [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology|theology]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 11.12.2007 |trans-title=Resignations and Appointments, 11.12.2007 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/12/11/0660/01774.html |accessdate=21 April 2025 |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |language=it |date=11 December 2007 |id=B0660}}</ref>
==Early life and studies== Willem Jacobus Eijk was born on 22 June 1953 in [[Duivendrecht]], [[North Holland]], Netherlands and was raised by a [[Protestant]] father and a [[Catholic]] mother.<ref name=pr20040804/>
Eijk studied medicine at the [[University of Amsterdam]] and received his degree in 1978. In 1978 and 1979 he worked as a doctor specializing in internal medicine.<ref name=interview/> He studied for the priesthood at the seminary of [[Rolduc]] in [[Kerkrade]].<ref name=pr20071211/> Beginning in 1979 he combined his theological formation with the study of [[medical ethics]] at [[Leiden University]]. He was [[Holy orders|ordained]] to the priesthood in 1985 and was incardinated in the [[Diocese of Roermond]]. Then he went to work as a curate in the parish of [[St. Anthony of Padua]] in [[Blerick|Venlo Blerick]].<ref name=pr20071211/>
In 1987, he earned a doctorate in medicine from the [[University of Leiden]],<ref name=pr20071211/> with a dissertation about [[euthanasia]].<ref name=rtv/> In 1990 he completed a PhD in philosophy at the [[Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas]] (''Angelicum'')<ref name=pr20071211/> with a dissertation entitled ''The ethical problems of genetic engineering of human beings''.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} Eijk also earned a [[Licentiate (Pontifical Degree)|licentiate in moral theology]] at the [[Pontifical Lateran University]] in Rome.<ref name=pr20071211/> At the same time he taught moral theology at the seminary of Rolduc. From 1996, Eijk was professor of moral theology in the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in [[Lugano]], Switzerland. From 1997 to 1999 he was a member of the [[International Theological Commission]].<ref name=pr20071211/>
==Bishop and Archbishop== [[File:Wim Eijk, Karel Kasteel.jpg|thumb|260px|Archbishop Wim Eijk of Utrecht during the Willibrord Procession, 14 September 2008]]
Eijk was appointed Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden on 17 July 1999 and consecrated a bishop on 6 November.<ref name=pr20040804/> He chose the motto {{Lang|la|Noli recusare laborem}} ("Do not reject the work"), taken from the last words of [[Martin of Tours]].<ref name=interview>{{cite news |work=Zenit |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=https://zenit.org/articles/cardinal-designate-eijk-doctor-defender-of-life/ |title=Cardinal-designate Eijk: Doctor, Defender of Life |date=14 February 2012 |first=Paola |last=De Groot-Testoni}}</ref> As bishop, he restricted the role of the laity in church services in comparison with past practice.<ref name=rtv>{{cite news |url=https://www.rtvutrecht.nl/nieuws/173187 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |date=11 December 2007 |title=Opvolger Simonis bekend: Wie is bisschop Eijk? |publisher=RTV Utrecht |language=nl}}</ref> In 2001 Wim Eijk suffered from a [[subdural hematoma]] from which he fully recovered.<ref name=interview/>
Pope John Paul II named him a member of the [[Pontifical Academy for Life]] on 4 August 2004<ref name=pr20040804>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 04.08.2004 |date=4 August 2007 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2004/08/04/0384/01232.html |language=it}}</ref> and a member of its governing council on 23 March 2005.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 23.03.2005 |date=23 March 2005 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2005/03/23/0158/00340.html |language=it}}</ref>
On 11 December 2007 [[Pope Benedict XVI]] appointed Eijk the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht]] <ref name=pr20071211>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 11.12.2007 |date=11 December 2007 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2007/12/11/0660/01774.html |language=it}}</ref> On 26 January 2008 he was installed in [[St. Catherine's Cathedral, Utrecht|St. Catharine's Cathedral]] in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]. He is the 70th successor of Saint [[Willibrord]] (658–739) as head of that see.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}
In May 2008, Pope Benedict appointed Eijk a member of the [[Congregation for the Clergy]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 06.05.2008 |date=6 May 2008 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2008/05/06/0297/00685.html |language=it}}</ref>
He co-edited the ''Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics: Responsible Healthcare from a Catholic Perspective'', published in 2010.<ref name=interview/><ref>''Manual of Catholic Medical Ethics: Responsible Healthcare from a Catholic Perspective'', ed. W.J. Eijk, L.M. Hendriks, J.A. Raymakers, and John I. Fleming (English Edition). Translated by Sr. M. Regina van den Berg, J. A. Raymakers (Ballarat: Connor Court Publishing, 2014), 629 pp. + Appendixes.</ref>
He was elected president of the [[Episcopal Conference of the Netherlands]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |accessdate=6 December 2017 |title=Eijk Card. Willem Jacobus |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_eijk_wj.html | url-status=live |archivedate=15 October 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015095221/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_eijk_wj.html}}</ref>
On 18 February 2012, [[Pope Benedict XVI]] made Eijk a cardinal along with 21 others.<ref>{{cite news |title=List of new cardinals named by Pope Benedict |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/pope-cardinals-list-idINDEE8050CK20120106 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305082202/http://in.reuters.com/article/pope-cardinals-list-idINDEE8050CK20120106 |url-status=dead |archivedate=5 March 2016 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=6 January 2012 |accessdate=1 February 2012}}</ref> He was created [[Cardinal-Priest]] of [[San Callisto]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Churches Assigned to New Cardinals |url=https://zenit.org/articles/churches-assigned-to-new-cardinals/ |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=Zenit |date=20 February 2012}}</ref> On 21 April he was named a member of the [[Congregation for Catholic Education]].<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 21.04.2012 |date=21 April 2012 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2012/04/21/0225/00521.html |language=it}}</ref> He was one of the [[Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2013|cardinal electors]] who participated in the [[Papal conclave, 2013|2013 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{cite news |title=List of Cardinal Electors |url=https://zenit.org/articles/list-of-cardinal-electors/ |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=Zenit |date=12 March 2013}}</ref>
Pope Francis named him a member of the [[Pontifical Council for the Laity]] on 6 February 2014.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=Rinunce e Nomine, 06.02.2014 |date=6 February 2014 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2014/02/06/0088/00186.html |language=it}}</ref>
In late 2013, Pope Francis agreed to a one-day visit to Amsterdam, a city omitted from Pope John Paul's visit to the Netherlands in 1985, but allegedly Eijk blocked the formal invitation, afraid that there would not be enough enthusiastic Dutch followers to give the Pope a worthy welcome.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/kardinaal-eijk-blokkeert-bezoek-paus-franciscus~a9e61ce7/ |accessdate=29 April 2025 |date=1 February 2014 |title=Kardinaal Eijk blokkeert bezoek paus Franciscus | trans-title= Cardinal blocks Pope Francis visit |work=Trouw |first=Emiel |last=Hakkenes}}</ref>
As Archbishop of Utrecht, he has recommended a restructuring of the diocese's 326 parishes into 48 territories, following a pattern throughout Europe in the face of shrinking church attendance. He has insisted of that plan despite some popular resistance. He said: "When I spoke to the pope, I warned that old church structures wouldn't exist by the time I retired – and that by 2025 two-thirds of our churches would have been withdrawn from divine worship.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luxmoore |first1=Jonathan |title=Europe's church creatively rethinks as numbers plummet |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/europes-church-creatively-rethinks-numbers-plummet |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=15 November 2017}}</ref>
He participated as a [[Cardinal electors in the 2025 papal conclave|cardinal elector]] in the [[2025 papal conclave]] that elected [[Pope Leo XIV]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html |title=Cardinal Electors |date=30 March 2026 |encyclopedia=[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] |publisher=David M. Cheney |language=en |accessdate=5 April 2026 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506193115/https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/scardc3.html |archivedate=6 May 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Positions===
In June 2015, Eijk ordered the removal of Rhianna Gralike, the [[transgender]] treasurer of the Norbertus Parish for eastern [[Flevoland]] and Northern [[Veluwe]], over the objections of the parish board.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kardinaal Eijk wil af van transseksuele boekhouder |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/binnenland/kardinaal-eijk-wil-af-van-transseksuele-boekhouder~ae18dd73/ |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=de Gelderlander |date=6 July 2015 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Uit kerk verbannen transgender gaat niet in op uitnodiging kardinaal |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/oost-gelre/uit-kerk-verbannen-transgender-gaat-niet-in-op-uitnodiging-kardinaal~a28cc9ed/ |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=de Gelderlander |date=29 June 2015 |language=nl}}</ref>
In 2015 Eijk was elected to represent the Episcopal Conference of the Netherlands at the Synod of Bishops on the Family in October.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=Holy See Press Office |title=XIV Assemblea Generale Ordinaria del Sinodo dei Vescovi (4-25 ottobre 2015) – Elenco dei Partecipanti, 15.09.2015 |date=5 October 2015 |accessdate=7 May 2018 |url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/09/15/0676/01469.html |language=it}}</ref> In advance of the Synod he published an essay stating that couples entering into a civil remarriage without having received annulments of earlier marriages represent "a form of structured and institutionalized adultery."<ref>{{cite news |first1=Joshua J. |last1=McElwee |first2=Dennis |last2=Coday |title=Synod to be culmination of two years' preparation, consultation |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/synod-be-culmination-two-years-preparation-consultation |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=National Catholic Reporter |date=2 October 2015}}</ref> Following the synod, he became a critic of Pope Francis' ''[[Amoris laetitia]]''. In 2018, he said the document had "caused doubt to be sown" and said Francis should state more clearly that marriage is "one and unbreakable" and that a Catholic who remarries after divorce must be denied Communion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=San Martín |first1=Inés |title=Once again, bishops around the world differ on 'Amoris' |url=https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/02/01/bishops-around-world-differ-amoris/ |accessdate=7 May 2018 |work=Crux |date=1 February 2018 |archivedate=8 May 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508054424/https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2018/02/01/bishops-around-world-differ-amoris/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In May 2018, after Pope Francis failed to reject a draft proposal on the part of the [[Episcopal Conference of Germany|German Bishops' Conference]] to allow [[Protestant]]s to receive the [[Eucharist]] in Catholic churches in certain cases, Eijk wrote that Francis was failing to defend "the clear doctrine and practice of the Church" and that this represented "a drift towards apostasy from the Truth".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ncregister.com/blog/edward-pentin/cardinal-eijk-pope-needed-to-give-clarity-to-german-bishops-on-intercommuni |title=Cardinal Eijk: Pope Francis Needed to Give Clarity on Intercommunion |work=National Catholic Register |date=7 May 2018 |accessdate=8 May 2018 |first=Willem Jacobus |last=Eijk}}</ref>
An article in the weekly De Groene Amsterdammer of 22 September 1999, included the catholic historian and journalist [[Ton van Schaik]] who criticized the cardinal for his relations with the extremely conservative Spanish lay movement [[Opus Dei]] and because the cardinal was not dismissive of the [[death penalty]]. Van Schaik considered that, contrary to Catholic doctrine.<ref>{{Cite magazine |first1=Joeri |last1=Boom |title=Superkatholiek |language=nl |trans-title=Super Catholic |url=https://www.groene.nl/artikel/superkatholiek] |magazine=[[De Groene Amsterdammer]] |date=22 September 1999}}</ref>
In 2022, Eijk published a book {{lang|nl|De band van de liefde: Katholieke huwelijksmoraal en seksuele ethiek}} (The Bond of Love: Catholic Marital Morality and Sexual Ethics), a work presenting the Catholic view that sexual activity within marriage has two inseparable purposes: the procreation of children and the unitive love between spouses ("mutual self-giving of man and woman"); and that outside of marriage or these purposes, chastity is required. The book also discusses various sexual acts in light of Catholic moral teaching.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dutch cardinal: “Chastity is not ridiculous” |url=https://cne.news/article/1916-dutch-cardinal-chastity-is-not-ridiculous |website=CNE News |accessdate=30 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Bond of Love |url=https://collegeofcardinalsreport.com/cardinals/willem-jacobus-eijk/#:~:text=The%20Bond%20Of%20Love |website=College of Cardinals Report |accessdate=30 April 2025}}</ref> Critics say that Eijk's book shows he is more orthodox than the Catholic Church.<ref>{{cite web |last=Huttinga |first=Wolter |title=Een kil klinisch boek van kardinaal Eijk over seksualiteit en dan het woord liefde in de titel opnemen |url=https://www.trouw.nl/recensies/een-kil-klinisch-boek-van-kardinaal-eijk-over-seksualiteit-en-dan-het-woord-liefde-in-de-titel-opnemen~bb4e092b/ | trans-title = A cold clinical book by cardinal Eijk about sexuality and then include the word love in the title |date=2 November 2022 |accessdate=29 April 2025 |website=www.trouw.nl |language=nl}}</ref>
In November 2022, he asked [[Pope Francis]] to write an encyclical on the issue of [[gender theory]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 November 2022 |title=Dutch cardinal asks pope for gender encyclical on gender theory |url=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2022/11/dutch-cardinal-asks-pope-for-gender-encyclical-on-gender-theory/ |accessdate= |website=[[Crux (online newspaper)|Crux]] |language=en}}</ref> His request was partially satisfied by the Declaration ''[[Dignitas Infinita]]'' of the [[Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Liedl |first=Jonathan |date=9 April 2024 |title=Vatican's 'Dignitas Infinita' Draws 'Clear Line' on Gender Theory, Receives Widespread Praise |url=https://www.ncregister.com/news/dignitas-infinita-human-dignity |accessdate= |website=[[National Catholic Register]] |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikiquote}} {{commons category|Wim Eijk}} * {{cite web |accessdate=6 December 2017 |title=Eijk Card. Willem Jacobus |publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]] |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_eijk_wj.html | url-status=live |archivedate=15 October 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015095221/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_eijk_wj.html}} * {{cite web |url=https://www.aartsbisdom.nl/home/organisatie/aartsbisschop/ |title=Willem Jacobus kardinaal Eijk |website=Aartsbisdom Utrecht |language=nl}}
{{S-start}} {{S-rel|ca}} {{S-bef|before={{ill|Bernard Möller|nl|nobold=y}} }} {{S-ttl|title=[[Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden|Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden]] |years=17 July 1999 – 11 December 2007}} {{S-aft|after=[[Gerard de Korte]]}} {{S-bef|before=[[Adrianus Johannes Simonis]]}} {{S-ttl|title=[[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Archbishop of Utrecht]] |years=11 December 2007 – present}} {{S-inc|rows=2}} {{S-bef|before=[[Corrado Ursi]]}} {{S-ttl|title=[[Cardinal (Catholicism)#Cardinal priests|Cardinal-Priest]] of [[San Callisto]] |years=18 February 2012 – present}} {{S-end}}
{{Cardinals created by Benedict XVI}} {{Cardinals of the Catholic Church|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eijk, Wim}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century cardinals]] [[Category:21st-century Dutch male writers]] [[Category:21st-century Dutch non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Archbishops of Utrecht]] [[Category:Cardinals created by Pope Benedict XVI]] [[Category:Dutch cardinals]] [[Category:Dutch male non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Dutch Roman Catholic archbishops]] [[Category:Dutch Roman Catholic writers]] [[Category:International Theological Commission]] [[Category:Leiden University alumni]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for Catholic Education]] [[Category:Members of the Congregation for the Clergy]] [[Category:People from Ouder-Amstel]] [[Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni]] [[Category:Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas alumni]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Groningen-Leeuwarden]] [[Category:University of Amsterdam alumni]]