The Vatican has appointed Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster, placing him at the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. He succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has stepped down at the age of 80 after leading the Church since 2009.
Moth has served for the past decade as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton, and previously as Bishop of the Forces. In his new role, he will also become president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, overseeing an estimated six million Catholics.
Cardinal Nichols reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 several years ago but remained in office at the request of Pope Francis. He later participated in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV. The selection of his successor was overseen by the Apostolic Nuncio to the UK, who submitted candidates to the pope.
Archbishop Moth has been prominent on social justice issues. Earlier this week, he co-signed a statement urging compassion for migrants and asylum seekers, referencing the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. He has also spoken in support of policies aimed at reducing poverty, including the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
Speaking at his first press conference, Moth said his immediate priority would be to understand the life of the diocese, including its clergy, schools, and communities. He identified social justice and prison reform as long-standing personal concerns.
He assumes leadership at a time of declining church attendance nationally, alongside growth in some parishes driven by immigrant communities. He will also face ongoing scrutiny over safeguarding, following past findings that documented thousands of abuse complaints within the Church in England and Wales.
Cardinal Nichols retires after 16 years marked by significant institutional and social change. His tenure included welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to England in 2010 and navigating the Church through periods of intense public criticism and reform.
