Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today appointed Fr Stephen Wang as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
Ordained to the priesthood on 3 January 1998, Fr Wang has spent the last five years as Rector of the Venerable English College, one of two English and Welsh seminaries in Rome training men for the priesthood.
Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, has released a statement on the Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv carried out in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 July:
“Our hearts are heavy but not broken following yet another massive and brutal aerial assault last night on Kyiv. As the Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, I join with people worldwide in mourning the tragic loss of innocent lives and pray for the recovery of people who suffered serious injuries, lost their homes, places of work and study."
On Monday 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Archbishop Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, received the Pallium from Pope Leo XIV at a Mass held in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Speaking to the Bishops’ Conference after the event, Archbishop Moth explained some of the rich symbolism and meaning behind this simple but unusual vestment:
“The pallium itself is a small strip of unbleached white wool with crosses on it that goes around the shoulders and a piece at the front and back. Yet in its simplicity, it is very rich. The fact that it’s been given to you by the Holy Father means that there is a real sense of sharing in the work of the Holy Father as a shepherd of the flock and of carrying the sheep, going out after the lost sheep, bringing back the stray."
On Wednesday 24 June, two huge earthquakes struck in Venezuela within a minute of each other. The death toll stands at 1,450, with thousands more still missing. Many more have been injured or displaced.
Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the International Affairs Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said:
“I wish to express my deepest solidarity with and prayerful support for all those men, women and children affected by the two devastating earthquakes. The Catholic Church in England and Wales stands alongside our brothers and sisters in Venezuela at this time of immeasurable suffering."
Bishop Paul Swarbrick has expressed his solidarity with communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) affected by a serious Ebola outbreak amid warnings from the local Church that the situation is placing enormous pressure on already vulnerable communities.
“I welcome the final report of the National Maternity and Neonatal Care Investigation led by Baroness Valerie Amos. I am grateful for the work of all those involved in this important project.”
The findings of the investigation are alarming and underline the need to ingrain a culture of care in maternity and neonatal services.
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Richard Moth as Apostolic Administrator sede plena et ad nutum Sanctæ Sedis of the Diocese of Northampton.
This is a temporary role, by which the Holy See ensures that the pastoral governance of a diocese will continue, when it is not possible for a diocesan Bishop to exercise his office. Therefore, the governance of the Diocese of Northampton is now canonically entrusted to Archbishop Moth.
In an interview with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Ambassador Chris Trott reflected on the last five years which he has spent as the British Ambassador to the Holy See.
Describing the job as “an opportunity to work with the most extraordinary people you’re ever likely to meet”, Ambassador Trott looked back on the events and accomplishments of the last five years as he prepares to finish his posting at the end of June.
“On 24 June, the Ockenden Review into maternity care at our city’s hospitals has been published, and with it so many families across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire once again carry a grief no parent should have to bear: a child who should be here and is not; a child now living with the lasting consequences of failures in their care; or a mother gravely harmed, in body and mind, in the very place she trusted to keep her and her baby safe. The Review itself names such a loss ‘an immeasurably heartbreaking experience that leaves profound and lasting wounds,’ and adds that where it might have been prevented, the pain runs deeper still.”
The recently installed Most Reverend Richard Moth, Archbishop and Metropolitan of Westminster and President of the Catholic Conference of Bishops of England and Wales, was welcomed by Bishop Kenneth at the Divine Liturgy at Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in London.
On 13 June Cardinal Ernest Simoni presided over Mass at Westminster Cathedral for the Albanian community in UK. Cardinal Simoni spent three decades in prison and forced labour under the communist dictatorship in Albania.
The Diocese of Salford is reopening the doors to its cathedral following a three-year closure to restore the mother church to its former glory.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist, located in the heart of Salford, is set to reveal the fruits of its multi-million pound transformation, making this historic place of worship a thriving hub of faith and community in modern times.
Bishop Jim Curry, Lead Bishop for the Holy Land, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, and Bishop Stephen Wright, Chair of Trustees, CAFOD, have voiced their support for the Just Peace Coalition’s Time to Act campaign which launches on Monday 22 June 2026.
On Tuesday, 17 June, The Cardinal Hume Centre held it’s Annual Anniversary Mass in Memory of His Eminence Cardinal George Basil Hume OSB, OM. The Mass took place at Sacred Heart Church, and was presided by The Reverend Slawomir Witoń, Dean of Westminster Cathedral.
Archbishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has expressed his deep disappointment that the Terminally III Adults (End of Life) Bill will return to parliament in autumn:
“I am deeply disappointed that the previously unsuccessful Terminally III Adults (End of Life) Bill is being reintroduced in the House of Commons. It is likely to be debated in September.”
An ecumenical partnership between the Bishops’ Conference ‘God who Speaks’ project, St John’s Waterloo, and Art + Christianity, has made an open call for artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design a cover for any of the 73 books of the Bible.
Titled Divine Designs: Between the Covers this art competition and exhibition celebrates creativity and innovation, and seeks to promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today.
As we enter the summer months, it seems appropriate to focus this episode of At the Foot of the Cross on rest and recuperation.
Once again, we’re joined by Abbot Hugh Allan O.Praem, our Director of Mission, who joins us to discuss the theology of rest and how his Norbertine community recharge their batteries to stay close to the Lord. As he says, it’s more Peckham than Benidorm.
10 October 2026
There are two main strands to the Adoremus National Eucharistic Congress in 2026.
In London, there will be a representative gathering of the Church with bishops, priests, and people. No less important is how Adoremus is marked in our parishes throughout England and Wales. Local Masses, processions of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Hours will unite these local events with the national gathering. Footage from the London event will be made available to enable remote participation.
The Maryvale Institute offers a full range of programmes for every ability, from easy short courses to a five-year PhD programme. Want to deepen your faith? Thinking about getting more involved with your parish, Catholic organisation or Diocese? Would you like to teach in Catholic institutions? One of these courses may be for you.
Today, people seeking asylum in the UK are facing laws and policies that deny their dignity. Families are kept apart. People are forced into poverty and isolation. Many live in fear, unable to rebuild their lives even after being recognised as refugees.
As Christians, we cannot accept a system that treats people as problems to be managed rather than neighbours to be welcomed. Together, we can build a society that welcomes, protects, and stands alongside people seeking safety.
St George's Roman Catholic Church