Archbishop of Westminster
Vincent Nichols, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham, has won the contest to be the next Archbishop of Westminster, in succession to Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. Mr Nichols, aged 63, was born on Merseyside. He is a “very thoughtful and prayerful man”, according to his press secretary, but is also “a keen football supporter”. Other Roman Catholics, possibly jealous rivals, have suggested that he is “calculating” and that “he has been a little too open about wanting the top job”. Judging by the comments on Roman Catholic websites, he is a tough and ambitious man. He has already proved himself an able political representative for the Church of Rome in his present position. He was rather more liberal in the days of Cardinal Basil Hume, with whom he was friendly, but he has shrewdly been moving in a conservative direction under the present Pope.
It is all a far cry from the spirit of Scripture, but it is depicted in Scripture: “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:2-7). DWBS