Pope Leo XIV Names Moth Westminster Archbishop

Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Richard Moth as the new Archbishop of Westminster on Friday, positioning the 67-year-old cleric to lead England's and Wales' estimated 3.8 million Catholics starting February 14. The London-based role, centered at Westminster Cathedral, marks Moth as the most senior Catholic figure in the two nations and the 12th person to hold the position.

Moth, who has served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015, will succeed Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who is retiring at age 80 after 16 years in the post. Nichols turned 80 last month and had remained in office beyond the standard retirement age of 75 at the request of the late Pope Francis. The cardinal, a Liverpool native, participated in the conclave that elected Leo earlier this year following Francis's death. In a statement, Nichols described Moth as bringing "many gifts and considerable episcopal experience" to the diocese, adding that he had provided dedicated service over his tenure.

Born in Chingola, Zambia, in 1958 and raised in Kent, southeast England, Moth was ordained a priest in 1982 after holding senior roles in the Southwark diocese. He served as the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009...