Jean-Pierre Delville

Jean-Pierre Delville (born 29 April 1951) is a Belgian prelate of the Catholic Church who has been the Bishop of Liège since 2013. His earlier career was devoted to church history and teaching, which he always combined with pastoral activity. He has been associated with the Community of Sant'Egidio since 1978.

Biography Early years and career Jean-Pierre Delville was born in Liège on 29 April 1951. He was one of four siblings born to an architect and an accountant. He was baptized by Louis-Joseph Kerkhofs, Bishop of Liège. He was raised in the village of Awans and attended the Collège Saint-Servais in Liège.

Bishop of Liège On 31 May 2013, Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Liège. His appointment was a surprise in that his name was not among those mentioned as likely candidates. He had maintained a low profile even while serving as spokesperson for the national bishops conference. He said the appointment was a surprise and he had taken several days before giving his consent. Attendees included Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio movement.

Since 2015, he has been president of the Belgian bishops commission on the Church and the world. and organized a fast-breaking meal with local imams and representatives of mosques and Islamic cultural centers. He has formed other alliances with Muslim leaders, for example to lobby against the abolition of religious education in schools.

Select publications Vie de Sainte Julienne de Cornillon (Leuven, 1999) L'Europe de l'exégèse au XVIe siècle: interprétations de la parabole des ouvriers à la vigne, Matthieu 20, 1-16 (Leuven: Peeters, 2004).