Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the private chapel of Archbishop’s House, London SW1P 1QJ.
The Mass was dedicated to the presence of those who have worked with him from 2000 – 2009 in Archbishop’s House during his time as London’s Archbishop of Westminster and as Cardinal. The Mass was also an opportunity to bid farewell to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as he moves to a home in Chiswick, west London. The Papal Nuncio, Auxiliary Bishops of Westminster, Archbishop’s House staff and representatives of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales were also present for the Mass of Thanksgiving.
In his homily the Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor paid tribute to the friendship and support of all staff and said: ‘I’d like to say that I have always felt very supported, very sustained by the friendship and affection of people here.’
All previous Archbishops of Westminster have died before their retirement and today’s farewell was therefore a unique historical event in the history of the Diocese of Westminster.
