Since the announcement made by the Holy Father yesterday that sixteen new elector cardinals would be created at the next Consistory in February including Archbishop Vincent, there has been a great outpouring of support for the Archbishop from all walks of life and across the religious spectrum.
His predecessor as Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, said: "I am delighted that my successor as Archbishop of Westminster has been named a Cardinal. Many people in this country have been looking forward to this day. It is an honour, not only for Archbishop Nichols, but for all Catholics in England and Wales."
Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, Vice President of the Bishops Conference, was "delighted to hear the news this morning that Archbishop Vincent, recently appointed by Pope Francis as a member of the Congregation of Bishops, will be created a Cardinal at the next Consistory on 22nd February. On behalf of his brother Bishops and the Catholic community in England and Wales, I offer Archbishop Vincent our heartiest congratulations as the 11th Archbishop of Westminster to be made a Cardinal. We assure him of our prayers and ask for God’s blessing as he generously takes on these new responsibilities in assisting the Holy Father in the governance of the universal Church.”
The Archbishop has also received messages of congratulations from Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of Britain’s Jewish population and Bishop Angealos, General Bishop of the Coptic Christian Orthodox Church, via Twitter, showing how important the elevation is for the religious life of the country, not just for Catholics in Westminster. Barnoness Warsi, government Minister for Faith and Communities, also tweeted her congratulations after the announcement was made.
As well as influential political and religious figures, the Diocese’s Twitter account been inundated with messages from parishioners, schools and organisations of the diocese, such as Caritas and CSAN.
Messages of support and congratulations have continued to come in since the announcement was made and the Archbishop has been humbled by them all and asks that we continue to pray for him as he enters the next stage of his priestly life by assisting the Holy Father in the running of the Universal Church.
