The Archbishop of Canterbury has welcomed the announcement by Pope Francis that the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, will be made a cardinal.
“I am absolutely delighted by this well-deserved appointment,” said Archbishop Justin Welby. “Archbishop Nichols has demonstrated clear leadership, personal holiness, and immense generosity. This strengthens the church in this country.”
Archbishop Nicholas released this statement, which said in part: “This is a humbling moment when I am asked to take a place in this service of the Holy See and in the line of much-loved Cardinal Archbishops of Westminster. I seek the blessing of Almighty God for these new responsibilities and I ask for the prayers of all people of faith that I may fulfill them with energy and devotion.”
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
