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Ceremony for new Catholic leader New Catholic leader is installed
(about 1 hour later)
The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is to be installed at Westminster Cathedral before more than 2,000 people. The new leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has been installed at Westminster Cathedral before more than 2,000 people.
Former Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, has pledged to bring the role new vigour. The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, has pledged to bring the role new vigour.
The 63-year-old becomes the 11th Archbishop of Westminster. The 63-year-old becomes the 11th to hold the office.
His installation comes after he defended saying it took "courage" for members of the church who abused children to face up to their actions. His installation came after he said it took "courage" for members of the Catholic church who abused children to face up to their actions.
The archbishop had said that a report revealing how the Catholic Church was aware sex offenders repeatedly abused children while working in Ireland's church and state-run institutions would "overshadow" the good they had done. The former archbishop of Birmingham had said that a report revealing the church's knowledge that sex offenders had repeatedly abused children while working in Ireland's church and state-run institutions would "overshadow" the good they had done.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live that his comments were "perfectly sensible" but insisted that perpetrators must confront what they did and be held to account. But he told BBC Radio 5 Live that his comments were "perfectly sensible" and insisted that perpetrators must confront what they did and be held to account.
"It is a tough road to take, to face up to our own weaknesses. "It is a tough road to take, to face up to our own weaknesses," he said.
"That is certainly true of anyone who's deceived themselves that all they've been doing is taking a bit of comfort from children.""That is certainly true of anyone who's deceived themselves that all they've been doing is taking a bit of comfort from children."
Catholicism has a very human face - we're clearly able to laugh at ourselves The Most Reverend Vincent NicholsCatholicism has a very human face - we're clearly able to laugh at ourselves The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols
His predecessor Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, 76, is the first Archbishop of Westminster to retire in post since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in the mid-19th Century. His predecessor, 76-year-old Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, is the first Archbishop of Westminster to retire in post since the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in the mid-19th Century.
He will hand over the crozier - or Bishop's staff, which is symbolic of his office - to the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols after the Papal mandate confirming the appointment is read aloud. He handed over the crozier - or Bishop's staff, which is symbolic of his office - to the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols after the Papal mandate confirming the appointment was read aloud.
The role will see him lead an estimated 4.2 million Roman Catholics in England and Wales. The leader of the Church of England, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, attended the ceremony and gave a short address.
Despite being viewed by many in the church as ambitious, the new archbishop told the BBC he viewed himself as a "fairly normal, average chap". He said in recent years relations between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches had become "closer and warmer".
He said: "I would really love to continue the perception that Catholicism has a very human face, that we're clearly able to laugh at ourselves, that we are actually not afraid of being criticised and we are not going to get on a high horse." Dr Williams added: "The fact the archbishops have been able to meet is a welcome development, and a sign that we all recognise common challenges and the need to play and act together."
The new role of the Archbishop of Westminster will see him lead an estimated 4.2 million Roman Catholics in England and Wales.
Despite being viewed by many in the church as ambitious, he told the BBC he viewed himself as a "fairly normal, average chap".
He added: "I would really love to continue the perception that Catholicism has a very human face, that we're clearly able to laugh at ourselves, that we are actually not afraid of being criticised and we are not going to get on a high horse."
John Wilkins, former editor of Catholic weekly newspaper The Tablet, said the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols had always been a "high-flyer", having shone in the key post of general secretary of the Catholic Bishop's Conference in London.John Wilkins, former editor of Catholic weekly newspaper The Tablet, said the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols had always been a "high-flyer", having shone in the key post of general secretary of the Catholic Bishop's Conference in London.
'Tough character' The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols will lead an estimated 4.2m Catholics.
"He believes in doing things rather than talking and offering sympathy. He will probably be tough," said Mr Wilkins, adding that the new archbishop would strongly promote the Vatican's views."He believes in doing things rather than talking and offering sympathy. He will probably be tough," said Mr Wilkins, adding that the new archbishop would strongly promote the Vatican's views.
The installation Mass will be attended by clergy from the Archdioceses of Westminster and Birmingham, where he was archbishop for nine years, as well as lay representatives from parishes, schools and Catholic organisations. The installation Mass was attended by clergy from the Archdioceses of Westminster and Birmingham, where he was archbishop for nine years, as well as lay representatives from parishes, schools and Catholic organisations.
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, and the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, will represent the Church of England. As well as Dr Williams, the Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend John Sentamu, and the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, represented the Church of England.
The Prince of Wales will be represented at the Mass by General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, the Catholic peer and former UK Chief of Defence Staff, while Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy will represent Gordon Brown. The Prince of Wales was represented at the Mass by General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, the Catholic peer and former UK Chief of Defence Staff, while Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy represented the Prime Minister.
Senior Roman Catholic hierarchy attending include Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Senior Roman Catholic hierarchy attending included Cardinal Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, and Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Music has been specially written for the occasion by leading Scottish composer James MacMillan and Colin Mawby, a former master of music at Westminster Cathedral. Music was specially written for the occasion by leading Scottish composer James MacMillan and Colin Mawby, a former master of music at Westminster Cathedral.