The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has announced that Pope Leo XIV has transferred Archbishop Bert Van Megen from Kenya to serve as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Germany.
In a statement on April 9, KCCB said that the Archbishop Bert Van Megen has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya since 2019.
“The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has appointed Archbishop Bert Van Megen, who has served as Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya since 2019, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Germany,” read part of the statement.
Pope Leo XIV Transfers Kenya’s Apostolic Nuncio to Germany
Born on October 4, 1961, in the Netherlands, Archbishop Hubertus Matheus Maria van Megen was ordained a priest of Roermond on June 13, 1987.
He was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Sudan and Titular Archbishop of Novaliciana in March 2014 and consecrated a bishop on 17 May 2014.
Shortly afterward, he became Apostolic Nuncio to Eritrea in the same year.
By February 2019, he had been transferred to Kenya as Apostolic Nuncio, and a month later, he took on additional responsibilities in South Sudan.
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In May 2019, he was named Permanent Observer to the United Nations Environment Program and Human Settlements Program.
His service in South Sudan concluded in May 2024, before his transfer to Germany.
His tenure in East Africa has been marked by a focus on promoting justice, peace, and the equitable distribution of resources, reflecting his commitment to upholding human dignity and fostering dialogue between church and society.
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His Connection to the Life of the Late Pope Francis
On May 7, 2025, the Archbishop praised the late Pope Francis for his remarkable selflessness, noting that the 266th Pontiff gave himself fully to the Church and the world.
His example, Archbishop van Megen said, serves as a model for clergy and Christians to put service above personal gain.
Archbishop van Megen encouraged the faithful in Kenya to emulate Pope Francis’ example, committing themselves to acts of compassion, especially toward those who are often neglected.
He added that Pope Francis truly lived as a disciple of Christ and faithfully followed the Jesus way of life.
“When reflecting on the life and the death of our Holy Father, it became evident to me that he leaves an enormous void behind, and that reveals his importance to the world. We are all left a bit orphaned, a bit abandoned,” Archbishop van Megen said.
