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Let’s go back to 15 February 2000, when you were informed you were to become the 10th Archbishop of Westminster. Did Pope John Paul II send you a letter or a text, or how did it happen?
Easing back in his chair, Cardinal Cormac reflected for a while on that life-changing event 12 years ago.
The circumstances were really a little strange. There had been an article in The Sunday Times in the previous week, saying that I was the front-runner for the post. Then, the day before I officially knew, a concerned Mgr Conry (now your Bishop, but then Director of the Catholic Media Office) rang me to ask if the story was true, as his office was being badgered by the Press for information. ‘No, I do not know what is going on’ was my honest reply.
Then, the next day, the Papal Nuncio asked me to go and see him without delay. Even at that point I was unaware of what was to come. In fact, I wondered what I had done wrong!
So, as instructed, I took myself to Wimbledon. In broken English he said, ‘The story is out. His Holiness wants you to be the next Archbishop of Westminster.’ What will make you smile is that, as his accent was extremely heavy, I left wondering or not if I was to be the next archbishop and had I heard the right message!
You were installed at Westminster Cathedral on 22 March 2000. What did you do in between being told and your actual installation? Was it a question of getting a quick holiday via lastminute.com?
Goodness me no! It was quite the opposite. I spent the time fulfilling my duties in A&B and then attending to my move and the arrangements for the installation. Yes, I was sad to leave the Diocese I had come to love and then there was my dog, Daniel, whom I also had to leave – but I could not imagine seeing the next Archbishop walking his dog around the streets of Westminster. Read more
Sources
- A & B News Blog
- Image: The Telegraph
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