The Most Rev Vincent Nichols appointed 11th Archbishop of Westminster

Congratulations to Lunarman The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham who is to become the 11th Archbishop of Westminster leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. He supercedes Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor on his retirement.

A recent Guardian article on his appointment described him as a ' .... strident public voice, unafraid of defending the traditional values of the Catholic Church'

Born in Crosby (Liverpool) he was ordained a priest in December 1969. He came to Birmingham in 2000 when he was installed as the 9th Bishop and 8th Archbishop of Birmingham.

In addition to his pastoral oversights of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Archbishop Nichols is Chairman of the Department for Catholic Education and Formation of the Bishops' conference and Chairman of the Catholic Education Service.

He has also written two books to date: 'Promise of Future Glory' and 'Missioners' published in the UK by Alive Publishing Ltd,