Roermond Diocese: Sede Impedita

Roermond Bishop Harrie Smeets, 62, Netherlands, has declared in a letter to his clergy that he is prevented from exercising his episcopal ministry according to Canon 412. Smeets was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the summer of 2021. A second tumour was found earlier this year, and doctors said there was nothing more they could do, so all treatments were stopped. Vicar General René Maessen has taken over the administration of the diocese.

Picture: Harrie Smeets © wikicommons, CC BY-SA, #newsEsqltloakp