News Archive
I am very pleased to be present with you today at Westminster Cathedral. I arrive from Buckfast Abbey, where all the Bishops of England and Wales are reunited for the General Meeting of the Episcopal Conference. I bring to you their greetings and…Read more
It is with sad news we announce the death of Fr Francis Press who passed peacefully at Northwick Park Hospital on the morning of 4 May 2025 – the Third Sunday of Easter – having been admitted last Tuesday from Whitby Dene Care Home in…Read more
The College of Cardinals has requested that all Catholics pray for them, so that they may listen to the Holy Spirit as they discern whom to choose as the next Pope. The Holy See released a declaration on Wednesday, 30 April, in which the…Read more
The morning began very early at 5:30, with the Roman sun not yet risen. Having already seen how busy the city had become—with both the funeral and the Jubilee for Teenagers drawing immense crowds—we knew we had to set off early to secure a…Read more
By Deacon Roger Carr-Jones, Marriage and Family Life Co-Ordinator , Diocese of Westminster The British seem to specialize in unusual and offbeat radio programmes, one of which is the obituary oLast Word. Here the life of the person is summarized…Read more
Pilgrimages are always full of surprises—rarely what you initially expect. But it's not often the biggest surprise comes even before the journey has even begun. Just a week ago, if you had asked the Diocese of Westminster’s group of 20 young…Read more
On the eve of the funeral of Pope Francis, Cardinal Vincent Nichols spoke to several BBC local and regional radio stations to discuss the legacy of the late pontiff and the shape of the days to come. Linking up live from Rome, the Cardinal spoke…Read more
More than 90,000 people have passed by the simple wooden coffin on the main altar of St Peter’s Basilica holding the body of Pope Francis, to pray, smile, mourn and pay their respects ahead of the papal funeral on Saturday morning. Cardinal…Read more
It is with sad news we announce the death of Fr Aidan Bede Sharratt. He died peacefully yesterday evening, 22 April, at St Anne’s Care Home in Stoke Newington with Little Sisters of the Poor, and Sr Clement, praying at his bedside. Fr Aidan was…Read more
Cardinal Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference, appeared on Pause for Thought this morning on BBC Radio 2 and spoke about Pope Francis’ legacy and the way in which he “expressed himself as much in gestures as in words”. Listen…Read more
Speaking on Thought for the Day this morning on BBC Radio 4, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference expressed sadness at the death of Pope Francis and the fact that “the death of Pope Francis takes from us a voice has…Read more
Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican Press Office has confirmed. He served as the 265th successor of St Peter from his election on 13 March 2013 to 21 April 2025. At 9:45am, Rome time, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic…Read more
They are known as some of London’s most elite venues with a string of VIP guests going through their doors. But Annabel’s, George, Harry’s Bar and Mark’s Club are now helping to feed the homeless at a West End church thanks to a service…Read more
On Tuesday 15 April, Cardinal Vincent Nichols celebrated the Chrism Mass at Westminster Cathedral, joined by hundreds of members of the Diocese of Westminster clergy. At the Mass, traditionally held during Holy Week, the sacred Holy Oils used for…Read more
record number of Christians took part in the Ecumenical Procession, Prayers and Blessing of the Palms at Finsbury Park in north London on Palm Sunday. At the park gates, after the crowds sang Give Me Joy in My Heart, accompanied by accordionist…Read more
'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' (Matthew 25:35-36) And during this season of Lent, we…Read more