Communities Minister attends historic Consistory Mass in Rome
Communities Minister Baroness Stowell will see Pope Francis appoint Archbishop Vincent Nichols to the position of cardinal.
Communities Minister Baroness Stowell will be part of a UK delegation, alongside Lord Patten of Barnes, to Rome this weekend to attend the historic Consistory Mass which will see Pope Francis appoint Archbishop Vincent Nichols to the position of cardinal.
Communities Minister Baroness Stowell said:
It will be a privilege to attend this momentous occasion which will be a proud day for British Roman Catholics and testament to Archbishop Vincent Nichols’ achievements and strong leadership of the Catholic faith in England and Wales. This is a powerful recognition of the Archbishop’s work on behalf of all Roman Catholics.
This day will be remembered for many years to come and I am honoured to be attending.
Lord Patten said:
I am honoured to have been invited to be part of the UK government’s delegation at the Consistory this weekend when Archbishop Vincent Nichols will become a member of the College of Cardinals.
He is a fine man and it was a privilege and pleasure to work with him before and during the highly successful visit made by Pope Benedict to England and Scotland.
We all know that Vincent Nichols will be an outstanding leader of the Catholic community in England and Wales as were his predecessors, Cardinal Hume and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.
During the visit Baroness Stowell and Lord Patten will attend Mass celebrated by Vincent Nichols’ predecessor - His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor - at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church and also attend the Consistory ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica.
As the only Cardinal-elector for England and Wales Cardinal-designate Vincent Nichols is 1 of 19 new Cardinals from across the world to be appointed in the Consistory and to receive a distinctive red cardinal’s hat.