Pope and Cardinal Discuss Westminster Succession

The Cardinal might press the Pope to draw up a timetable so that the next Archbishop of Westminster can be installed at Easter.

ROMA (The Catholic Herald, UK) - Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor was due to meet the Pope amid speculation that he will retire soon.The Cardinal, 76, hopes Pope Benedict XVI will name his successor in the next three months. He offered his resignation when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in August last year but the Pontiff asked him to remain in office until a suitable candidate was found to replace him.

A terna, or shortlist, has now been drawn up by Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, the papal nuncio to Great Britain, who will deliver it to the Vatican before Christmas.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor is making very few diary appointments after that time, while arrangements are in place for him to retire to a house in Chiswick, London.

The purpose of the Cardinal's visit to Rome was to attend meetings of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, of which he is a member. But he was due to speak privately with the Pope yesterday in a meeting in which, according to sources, it was very likely that the succession would be discussed.

The Cardinal might press the Pope to draw up a timetable so that the next Archbishop of Westminster can be installed at Easter.

He will become the first cardinal to retire since the English hierarchy was re-established in 1850. All of his predecessors have died in office. He will continue to serve on Vatican councils and will be able to vote in conclave to elect popes until he turns 80. He is also considering working as an adviser to the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham remains 13/8 favourite with Irish bookmaker Paddy Power to become the next Archbishop of Westminster.