Merseyside-born cardinal offers verdict on his possibilities of succeeding Pope Francis following pontiff’s demise elderly 88

The chief of the Catholic Church in England and Wales this afternoon dominated out any probability of him succeeding Pope Francis following the pontiff’s demise as of late at age 88.

Merseyside-born Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 79, who is without doubt one of the maximum robust figures within the church, claimed that he was once ‘too old and not capable’ to be thought to be for the location.

Cardinal Timothy Ratcliffe, who joined Cardinal Nichols on the press convention, additionally reputedly pulled out of the race to grow to be the brand new Pope.

He added: ‘I believe the Holy Spirit is far too wise to even think of me for the shortest moment.’

The pair are probably the most 3 British cardinals who’re technically eligible to be successful Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church.

Liverpool-born Cardinal Vincent Nichols has been Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales since 2009. He was once made a Cardinal in 2014.

The clergyman, 79, was once ordained over 55 years in the past and at the beginning served in his house town prior to turning into Archbishop of Birmingham in 2000, previous to being given the United Kingdom’s best activity.

In more moderen years, Pope Francis appointed him to wider roles together with being president of the Santa Marta staff, an alliance of Catholic bishops and police chiefs world wide, introduced in 2014.

Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Nichols, left, with Pope Francis at Vatican City in 2015

In October 2016, Cardinal Nichols, the son of 2 academics, was once elected Vice-President of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences.

Paying tribute after the Pope’s demise was once introduced this morning, Cardinal Nichols mentioned: ‘A voice proclaiming the innate dignity of each human being, particularly those that are deficient or marginalised, is now silent.’ 

Asked about the potential of succeeding Pope Francis because the chief of the arena’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in a 2014 interview, Cardinal Nichols had mentioned he mentioned it was once inconceivable to ‘assess and judge the unfolding of events’. 

He advised the Liverpool Echo: ‘There are some very able men among the cardinals and this is a big church that’s in each continent and maximum countries – and you’ll’t assess and pass judgement on the unfolding of occasions within the Church, apart from from a extensive point of view. And on that extensive point of view, I’m just a little dot!’

He added: ‘And we have seen it with having a Pope from the Argentine (Pope Francis) – it has expanded everyone’s horizons. I feel every time the time comes it’s going to be a world debate, now not only a European debate.’

The clergyman has been noticed as a ‘liberal’ determine, as soon as criticised for supporting civil partnerships and gay-friendly lots held in London for 6 years till 2013 – however he publicly antagonistic homosexual marriage.

He has additionally spoken out towards welfare reforms by way of the coalition executive led by way of Lord Cameron, caution the adjustments had been leaving folks ‘in destitution’.

And in his most up-to-date political intervention, he referred to as the Labour executive ‘deeply irresponsible’ for permitting the assisted loss of life regulation to continue after a unmarried morning’s debate when compared with loads of hours spent debating the fox searching ban 20 years in the past.

Cardinal Nichols greeted by way of Pope Francis right through a papal target market in Rome, watched by way of his predecessor as Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.

He mentioned: ‘I believe it is deeply irresponsible of any government to allow a change of this magnitude to be carried out without due, proper, government-supported parliamentary process.’

Cardinal Nichols confronted calls to surrender in 2020 after the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse discovered it have been ‘swept under the carpet’ by way of the Catholic Church in Britain.

The 162-page file mentioned: ‘The church’s forget of the bodily, emotional and religious wellbeing of youngsters and younger folks in favour of defending its popularity was once in battle with its undertaking of affection and maintain the blameless and prone.’

Of Cardinal Nichols, it said: ‘There was no acknowledgment of any personal responsibility to lead or influence change. Nor did he demonstrate compassion towards victims in the recent cases which we examined.’

The clergyman presented his resignation however Pope Francis requested him to stick put. At the time, a church spokesperson mentioned the cardinal would now not be resigning following the inquiry’s criticisms as a result of he was once ‘determined to put it right’.

Cardinal Nichols has spoken prior to now of feeling a calling to the priesthood whilst status at the terraces at Anfield.

The life-long Liverpool FC supporter advised The Times, in 2007: ‘I’d gone to watch Liverpool, (was stood) on the Kop at Anfield and (said) to God, “Why don’t you just leave me alone? Why can’t I just be one of a crowd?”.’

Cardinal Nichols was born in Crosby, Merseyside, in November 1945, where he attended SS Peter and Paul RC Primary and St Mary’s College.

Cardinal Nichols is seen as being from the liberal wing of the church and has spoken out on poverty and assisted loss of life however confronted calls to surrender over the kid intercourse abuse scandal.

At St Mary’s, he recalled exploring religion in RE classes, and that game and tune had been additionally crucial on the faculty.

He mentioned: ‘I was a member of the school orchestra – I played the French horn – and performed in the annual concerts at the Philharmonic Hall. My appreciation of music grew, while being in an orchestra also teaches you about teamwork.’

He studied for the priesthood on the Venerable English College in Rome from 1963.

Returning to England, he persisted his research on the University of Manchester the place he bought the stage of “Master of Arts” with a thesis at the theology of St. John Fisher.

He was once ordained in December 1969 for the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

His first position was once as a parish priest in Wigan, the place he was once additionally a chaplain to a sixth-form school, prior to he then moved to paintings in Toxteth, Liverpool.

In January 1984, he turned into the overall secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, occupying the put up for 9 years.

He labored intently with then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Basil Hume, and earned a name as a ‘dynamic administrator’.

Following the demise of a pope – or in uncommon circumstances of a resignation – the Vatican convenes what’s referred to as a papal conclave. This is the place the College of Cardinals comes in combination to elect the following head of the Catholic Church.

Cardinals are the Catholic Church’s maximum senior monks, who’ve go back and forth from all over the international to be at The Vatican in Rome – the house of the church – to participate within the election, or conclave.

The most up-to-date regulations of the papal conclave say that there are 138 electors among the 252 overall cardinals. Only those that are beneath the age of 80 are allowed to participate in what’s a secret poll, held within the Sistine Chapel.

There are 4 rounds of vote casting, which occur each day till a one candidate receives a two-thirds majority of the vote. The procedure will generally ultimate between 15 and 20 days prior to a brand new Pope is selected.

The best English Pope was once Adrian IV, born at Abbot’s Langley, Hertfordshire, as Nicholas Breakspear, who held administrative center between 1154 and 1159.

He turned into a clergyman in France and was once appointed a bishop in Italy in 1150 by way of Pope Eugene III.