Diocese of Eupen-Malmedy

The Saints-Pierre, Paul et Quirin cathedral in Malmedy.

The diocese of Eupen-Malmedy is a former Belgian Roman Catholic diocese, which existed between 1920 and 1925, and included the East Cantons. The diocese of Eupen-Malmedy is one of three former Belgian diocese, and the only one that has not been created a titular see.

History

The German areas Eupen and Malmedy were given to the Kingdom of Belgium in 1920, conform the Treaty of Versailles, as compensation for the losses the country had suffered in World War I.

There were difficulties for the population, who now were part of a different country. On the ecclestical field these problems were, that the population felt more related to the German archdiocese of Cologne, then the French-speaking diocese of Liege, which was dependent on the archdiocese of Mechelen, the later archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel.

When the situation escalated, cardinal Mercier, primate of Belgium and archbishop of Mechelen-Brussel, asked pope Benedict XV to create a diocese which would encompass the new Belgian territories. On 30 Juli 1920 the diocese Eupen-Malmedy was created with the publication of the papal bull Ecclesiae Universae. Martin-Hubert Rutten, bishop of Liege, was named bishop of this new diocese. He was officially created bishop of Eupen-Malmedy on 13 October 1920. He remained bishop of Liege as well. The church of Malmedy, the Saints-Pierre, Paul et Quirin became the cathedral and seat of the new bishop. On 15 April 1925 the diocese was joined with the diocese of Liege, following another papal bull. The three deaneries, Eupen, Malmedy and Sankt-Vith became part of the diocese of Liege. The cathedral in Malmedy would keep the status of cathedral, also after 1925.

Bishop of Eupen-Malmedy

Martin-Hubert Rutten was the first and only bishop of Eupen-Malmedy, from 13 October 1920 till 15 April 1925.

References

• De Pooter, P. De rechtspositie van erkende erediensten en levensbeschouwingen in Staat en maatschappij, Larcier, page 240
• Diocese of Liège at Catholic Hierarchy, with notes on namechanges including Eupen-Malmedy