Religion still has a vital role to play in uniting communities in Britain, the new Archbishop of Westminster said yesterday in his first public appearance since accepting the job from Pope Benedict XVI.The Most Rev Vincent Gerard Nichols, who was the favourite to inherit the office, has long impressed the Roman Catholic hierarchy with his spirited defence of traditional values and his ease with the media, and admits to being blessed with the "gift of the gab".
He inherits the title from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor and, from 21 May, will lead the largest and most important Roman Catholic diocese in England and Wales. He also becomes the public face and voice of a Christian denomination that numbers five million nationally.
Clergy and staff applauded him as he entered the Throne Room at Archbishop's House, London, where the announcement was made. He sat next to O'Connor, a portrait of Benedict XVI positioned on the wall behind them.
Nichols, as archbishop of Birmingham, has already proved his mettle in lobbying for Catholic interests and is more likely to clash with the government than his predecessor. One of his biggest triumphs was in 2006, when he successfully campaigned against a non-Catholic quota for Catholic schools.
Nichols, who chairs the Catholic Education Service, yesterday lauded faith schools and in the process revealed some of the resolve that had forced the then education secretary, Alan Johnson, into a climbdown over the matter.
He said: "They make a huge difference to our society, they prepare children to be citizens of a multi-faith society. I defend them because they are good, they are good because they are Catholic."
When asked about the role of religion in public life - a going concern among all faith groups - the 63-year-old archbishop replied: "Faith is a huge public asset, it is a great strength for building social cohesion. Real, social, community cohesion will not be achieved on an aggressively secular model.
"There are very serious issues we need to address - how the motivation of faith is used as an incentive in the public sector. If you banish that depth of humanity, our public services become commercialised."
In his opening comments at the press conference the cardinal said he was "glad" to be handing on the (bishop's) staff to somebody so "competent, passionate and experienced".
The appointment was also welcomed by the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, who said he was "delighted" by the news.
"He is a thoroughly experienced pastor, already well-known and much appreciated in the archdiocese. I look forward greatly to working more closely with someone who is already a valued friend and colleague."
There was praise, too, from the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, Cafod, which described him as a "forward thinker" and listed the many countries Nichols had visited, including Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador.
In remarks that highlighted Nichols' dynamism on global affairs, Cafod's director, Chris Bain, said: "He has been involved in many local Cafod initiatives including 'drop the debt' campaigning. [Archbishop] Nichols also donned his Cafod T-shirt, got on his bike and set off around the [Birmingham] diocese to raise money for us."
Although Nichols had long been regarded as the most likely contender to fill the shoes of the 6ft 4in incumbent, his appointment was never guaranteed. A few weeks ago several Catholic bishops expressed their unease about Nichols, saying he was too ambitious and divisive for the job, another concern the new archbishop sought to address. "The Catholic instinct for unity is more than a superficial thing. A lot of this will be put in the past."
In his words
On being a Liverpudlian living in London I'm going to face divided loyalties, but every football supporter knows you support your home team.
On the media I don't expect to have a cosy relationship with the media, I expect to have an honest one.
On, briefly, ceasing to be the favourite for the job I thought 'Good, they're drifting away from me, I can stay in Birmingham'.
On getting the job I was quite frankly surprised. If this is what the Holy Father wants, all I can do is respond.
On G20 and the economic meltdown The sums of money are just mind-boggling ... money of itself will never solve the problem of this financial crisis, which ... is a crisis of trust.
On his predecessor He has been through some difficult times but he emerges stronger and more buoyant than when he began.
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(Source: GUK)