Friday 19 December
Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols. His successor as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster, will be the Right Rev Richard Moth. Cardinal Vincent is the current Churches Together in England President representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
Archbishop-elect Moth was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 3 July 1982. He has served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015. Prior to that, he was the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015. He is also the current Chair of Churches Together in Surrey.
Archbishop-elect Moth will be installed at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
On hearing of his appointment, Archbishop-elect Moth said: “I am moved greatly by the trust that Pope Leo has placed in me, in appointing me to the Diocese of Westminster. As I prepare to move to the Diocese, I am so grateful for the support being given to me by Cardinal Vincent Nichols at this time. He has given dedicated service to the Diocese and will be missed greatly.”
Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said: “I welcome the announcement today that Bishop Richard Moth is to be the new Archbishop of Westminster serving the Catholic Church in England and Wales. In the Church of England, we stand alongside our sisters and brothers in the Catholic Church, praying for Bishop Richard and uniting in a common witness to Jesus Christ. May his ministry be filled with joy, and may he lead with wisdom, humility and faith, guided by the Holy Spirit.”
We wish Cardinal Vincent every blessing in his retirement, and we pray for Bishop Richard Moth as he prepares to take up the mantle as Archbishop of Westminster in February. We give thanks for the warm friendship that Methodists share with Catholics across the Connexion, and join with our Catholic siblings in celebration at today’s news.
The Methodist Church said: “…we pray for Bishop Richard Moth as he prepares to take up the mantle as Archbishop of Westminster in February. We give thanks for the warm friendship that Methodists share with Catholics across the Connexion, and join with our Catholic siblings in celebration at today’s news.”
“An ecumenical giant”
Cardinal Vincent had been the 11th Archbishop of Westminster since May 2009. He was elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales by unanimous acclamation on 30 April 2009.
“Cardinal Vincent has been an ecumenical giant as a Churches Together in England President.” said the General Secretary of Churches Together in England, Bishop Mike Royal.
Bishop Mike continued: “It is difficult to put into words what a blessing he has been to the church at large. His stature and measured approach, both in relations with other churches and his responses to issues emerging in society, have helped maximise the impact of the church as a whole, when it has spoken as one.
“Often the go-to person when the media wants to hear what the church thinks, Cardinal Vincent never disappoints. A voice of clarity and calm authority when the storm is raging, he will be hugely missed. Cardinal Vincent, you have led the Catholic Church in England and Wales with distinction. On behalf of all at CTE, we wish you the very best in retirement.”
The Methodist Church said: “Cardinal Nichols has given distinguished leadership over a lifetime of ministry, including 34 years as a bishop, and as Cardinal has guided the Catholic Church in England and Wales through some of the most challenging moments of modern times. As a President of Churches Together in England, he has borne witness to the unity of the Christian church, and the fellowship among Christians that Methodists so celebrate.”
Read more about Archbishop-elect Richard from the Diocese of Westminster.
Photo: Cardinal Vincent at the CTE Forum 2025. Credit Churches Together in England