Robert-Joseph Mathen

Robert-Joseph Mathen
Bishop of Namur
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseDiocese of Namur
In office24 June 1974 – 7 February 1991
PredecessorAndré-Marie Charue
SuccessorAndré-Joseph Léonard
Previous postsTitular Bishop of Tituli in Numidia (1974)
Coadjutor Bishop of Namur (1974)
Orders
Ordination25 August 1940
Consecration3 May 1974
by André-Marie Charue[1]
Personal details
Born(1916-12-30)30 December 1916
Died19 January 1997(1997-01-19) (aged 80)

Robert-Joseph Mathen (1916–1997) was the 28th Bishop of Namur in Belgium.

Mathen was born in Aubange on 30 December 1916,[2] and was educated at Collège Saint-Joseph de Virton.[3] He entered the seminary and was ordained to the priesthood on 25 August 1940,[3] after which he studied Theology at the Catholic University of Leuven.[2] In 1960 he was appointed dean of Arlon, and on 24 June 1974 he became bishop of Namur named by Pope Paul VI.[2] He had already been consecrated as his predecessor's coadjutor bishop on 3 May the same year.[3] In 1990 Pope John-Paul II accepted his resignation, to come into force when his successor was appointed.[3]

He died as a result of pneumonia on 19 January 1997 and his funeral service took place in Namur cathedral on 23 January.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Bishop Robert-Joseph Mathen". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  2. ^ a b c d Christian Laporte (20 January 1997). "Mgr Mathen incarnait le peuple de dieu". Le Soir.
  3. ^ a b c d "Namur: le pape accepte la démission de Mgr Mathen". catho.ch. 25 February 1990.