The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales held a one-day plenary assembly on Saturday April 18, followed by a week of ongoing formation.
The gathering took place at Convento Palazzola, the Venerable English College's villa and retreat house just outside Rome. The English College is a seminary that prepares men for the priesthood.
New president of CBCEW
During the plenary meeting, the Bishops of England and Wales elected Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, as president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. He succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, his predecessor in Westminster, who served as President from April 2009.
Archbishop Moth said: "It's a real privilege to be in this position and I really pray that, with my brother bishops, I'll be able to serve the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
"We look at the challenges in the world around us and that very often shapes our priorities. But it's not just about being reactive, it's about having a real consciousness that the Gospel message is an eternal message, the fact of God's love for us all, that's something that's unchanging, and it's about bringing that message into the world.
“For me, 'mission' is very much a priority: a mission grounded in prayer and our celebration of the liturgy, and a mission that enables us to bring the light of the Gospel and the peace of Christ into the world in which we live.”
Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington was elected by the bishops to replace Archbishop Moth as chair of the Bishops' Conference Department for Social Justice.
Statement on peace
As the bishops met in Rome, Pope Leo XIV followed his Apostolic Journey through Africa to its conclusion.
The bishops issued a statement on peace as a sign of solidarity with the Holy Father, asking for Catholics to pray with them for an enduring peace with justice in the world’s conflict zones.
