Cardinal, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels (1979-2010).
Well before the end of his studies, he was ordained to the priesthood by Emiel Jozef De Smedt, Bishop of Bruges in a ceremony in the Kanegem parish church on 17 August 1957, the 25th wedding anniversary of his parents.
His resignation that he had submitted in 2008 at the age of 75 was accepted by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 January 2010.
He served as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the chairman of the episcopal conference of his native country from 1979 to 2010.