Who is the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols?
VINCENT NICHOLS has served as the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster for over 13 years.
As the Archbishop of Westminster, Nichols has played an important role within the Roman Catholic Church, advising the pope directly.
Who is the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols?
Vincent Nichols was appointed to the post of Archbishop of Westminster in May 2009.
He was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales by unanimous decision on April 30, 2009.
Prior to his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster, Nichols had served as Archbishop of Birmingham for nine years.
Nichols has been dedicated in leading the church in working against human trafficking and modern slavery.
He was also made a Cardinal Priest by Pope Francis in February 2014, in St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
What are the duties of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster?
One of the biggest responsibilities of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster is voting for the new pope if the current one should pass away or abdicate.
The Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church sit just below the pope in the church's hierarchy, and therefore they are very important.
The Cardinal Archbishop would be one of the pope's principal advisors and would work closely with him.
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Day-to-day, Nichols is responsible for running his archdiocese.
This involves tasks like being present during confirmations and ordainments, as well as managing his bishops.
What is the difference between an archbishop and a cardinal?
A cardinal is a position that can only be appointed by the pope.
The cardinal status is of a higher rank than that of a bishop or archbishop.
Therefore, when Pope Francis made the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, a cardinal in 2014, he acquired more status within the Catholic church.
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The only position that ranks above a cardinal is the pope, himself, and only those who are already bishops can be appointed as cardinals.
As of the beginning of September 2022, there are currently 226 cardinals across the world.