Today
Archbishop Vincent Nichols was among the nineteen bishops to receive a scarlet
biretta from Pope Francis making him a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. This is
an historic event as it is the first time that two Archbishops of Westminster
are alive and both are members of the college of cardinals. Archbishop-Emeritus
Cormac Cardinal Murphy O'Connor was the first Archbishop of Westminster to live
long enough to retire in office and now that he has passed his eightieth
birthday and is no longer able to vote in conclave, the way is clear for
Archbishop Nichols to receive this honour.
During
the consistory in the Vatican Basilica of St Peter in Rome this morning,
Cardinal Nichols received a ring and the distinctive scarlet biretta from the
hands of Pope Francis and is now entitled to wear the scarlet robes of his rank
and use a new coat of arms, like the one below.
His titular Church in Rome is Sanctissimi Redemptoris et Sancti Alfonsi in Exquiliis (The Most Holy Redeemer and St Alphonsus)
