Saturday, September 2, 2017

Condolences to Westminster

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has sent a telegram of condolence for the death of His Eminence, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, former Archbishop of Westminster (United Kingdom).  Pope Francis' note was sent to the current Archbishop of Westminster, His Eminence, Cardinal Vincent Gerard Nichols.


Telegram of Condolence
for the death of His Eminence
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

To Cardinal Vincent Nichols
Archbishop of Westminster

Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop emeritus of Westminster, I hasten to offer my heartfelt condolences to you and to the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese. Recalling with immense gratitude the late Cardinal’s distinguished service to the Church in England and Wales, his unwavering devotion to the preaching of the Gospel and the care of the poor, and his far-sighted commitment to the advancement of ecumenical and inter-religious understanding, I willingly join you in commending his noble soul to the infinite mercies of God our heavenly Father. To all who mourn his passing in the sure hope of the Resurrection I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of consolation and strength in the Lord.

Franciscus

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop emeritus of Westminster, Great Britain, was born on 24 August 1932 in Reading, Great Britain. He was ordained for the Diocese of Portsmouth on 28 October 1956 and held licentiates in philosophy and theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He served as a curate in Portsmouth and Fareham, and was director of vocations and secretary to then- Bishop Derek Worlock. He was later parish priest of Immaculate Conception, Southampton, for a year before being named rector of the Venerable English College, Rome (1971-1977). On 17 November 1977, he  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Arundel  and  Brighton, and received  episcopal ordination on 21 December of that year.

From  1982  to  2000  he  was  co-chairman  of  the  Anglican-Roman  Catholic  International Commission (ARCIC) and also served as chairman of several committees of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. His promotion to Archbishop of Westminster was announced on 15 February 2000. In November 2000 he was elected President of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and served in that capacity until May 2009.

His Eminence served as Vice President of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE), 2001-2006; attended the X Ordinary Assembly of Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 27, 2001 and the XI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, October 2 to 23, 2005.  He has been Archbishop emeritus of Westminster since 3 April 2009.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Saint John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, and given the Title of S. Maria sopra Minerva (Holy Mary above Minerva).

His Eminence died on 1 September 2017.

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