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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols to become Cardinal | Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols to become Cardinal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, is to be created a Cardinal by Pope Francis. | The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, is to be created a Cardinal by Pope Francis. |
| Archbishop Nichols will be one of 19 new Cardinals from around the world who will be appointed at the next consistory of Cardinals, which takes place at the Vatican on 22 February. | Archbishop Nichols will be one of 19 new Cardinals from around the world who will be appointed at the next consistory of Cardinals, which takes place at the Vatican on 22 February. |
| He said: "I am deeply moved by the honour conferred on the Catholic Church in England and Wales and on the Diocese of Westminster in my appointment. | He said: "I am deeply moved by the honour conferred on the Catholic Church in England and Wales and on the Diocese of Westminster in my appointment. |
| "Personally this is a humbling moment." | "Personally this is a humbling moment." |
| Archbishop Nichols will not be the only British Cardinal when he is appointed. | |
| His predecessor as Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, is already in the role but no longer has voting rights at the consistory because he is more than 80 years old. | |
| There is also Cardinal Keith O'Brien who stepped down as leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland last year after admitting sexual misconduct. | |
| Archbishop Nichols is the 11th Archbishop of Westminster to be created a Cardinal. | |
| He studied for the priesthood in Rome from 1963 to 1970 and was ordained as a priest in the city in 1969. | |
| In 1984 he was appointed general secretary of the Bishops' Conference in England & Wales and was named Archbishop of Birmingham in 2000. | |
| He was appointed Archbishop of Westminster in 2009, the same year he was unanimously elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. | |
| He added: "This appointment enables me, on behalf of all, to serve the Pope in a direct and prolonged way. | |
| "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 fulfil them with energy and devotion." | |
| The Cardinals are the most senior priests in the Catholic Church below the Pope. | |
| In the past they were the local clergy of Rome but nowadays they are Bishops of important dioceses from around the world, heads of departments of the Vatican or priests or bishops who the Pope wants to honour personally. | |
| Their primary responsibility is to elect a new Pope when the previous one dies or abdicates. | |
| However when a Pope is in office they act as his advisors as well as running various aspects of Church life. |