Faith features

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols as the next Archbishop of Westminster.

He has been the Archbishop of Birmingham since March 2000, and his diocese includes all of Worcestershire.

Archbishop Nichols will succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who has been Archbishop of Westminster since March 2000, becoming the 11th Archbishop of Westminster since the Restoration of the Hierarchy in 1850, when the diocesan structure was re-established.

A great deal to offer

Archbishop Vincent Nichols said: "It's sad departing from the Diocese of Birmingham which I have learnt to appreciate, cherish and love.

"I would like to thank Cardinal Cormac, who has been an outstanding Archbishop of Westminster.

"He knows what it's like to live through really hard times, and he has come through them with great dignity and strength.

"He has been an outstanding public leader of the Catholic community in this country today, and I know I speak for many when I express our steadfast admiration and thanks to him for all that he has done. 

"I feel a real need to acknowledge my openness to, and dependence on, God above all else, but in this I am not unique.

"Everyone who seeks to follow the ways of God learns to depend on the truth, love and compassion of God more than on their own strength.

"I know that as I prepare to take on this new office in the Church, many people will pray to the Lord that I will be strengthened for this task - and that is what I definitely need.

"We often hear of the challenges facing our country in finding cohesion in the face of great diversity.

"Our churches are places where people are from a wide variety of different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds; they come together, work together and contribute together to the wider good of our society.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

"The Church in this country has a great deal to offer and I hope to do my best to contribute to that project in this new role."

Cardinal's resignation

The Pope has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said: "I would like to welcome Archbishop Vincent back to the diocese, 17 years after he was ordained as an auxiliary Bishop in Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Basil Hume.

"He has many friends and colleagues among the Bishops, priests, religious and lay people of the diocese.

"Archbishop Vincent and I have shared much over many years and have been privileged to be members of a most united and harmonious Bishops' Conference: sharing with all the Bishops in a steadfast loyalty to the Holy Father and a deeply held desire to promote the common good.

"I have been blessed greatly in my ministry here and now above all I pray for God's blessings on Vincent Nichols, the next Archbishop of Westminster."

Archbishop Emeritus

As Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor remains an active member of the College of Cardinals, and retains the right to vote in a conclave until he reached the age of 80. He also remains eligible to be a member of Congregations, Councils and Commissions in the Roman Curia until he is 80.

It's not expected that the new Archbishop of Westminster will be appointed as a Cardinal until after Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor has become 80.

The Cardinal will now become the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Westminster until Archbishop Nichols is installed at Westminster Cathedral on Thursday, 21 May 2009; until then, Archbishop Nichols will remain in Birmingham.