Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor

Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor (born 24 August 1932 in Reading, Berkshire) is a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Elevated to cardinal in consistory by Pope John Paul II, Murphy-O'Connor currently serves as the tenth Archbishop of Westminster. He is also pastor of Westminster Cathedral in London.

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24 August - 1932 - Reading, Berkshire - Bishop - Roman Catholic Church - Cardinal - Consistory - Pope John Paul II - Archbishop of Westminster - Pastor - Westminster Cathedral - London

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Murphy-O'Connor was one of five children of emigrant parents from County Cork, Irish Free State. Two of his brothers also became priests, one of whom is now deceased, and another brother is a physician. The last brother, John, a regular officer in the Royal Artillery Regiment, died at the age of 32 (for reasons which have never been made clear). He was educated at Prior Park College in Bath, England, then began training for the priesthood in 1950 at the Venerable English College in Rome, Italy. While in Rome, he took a degree in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained as a priest in Rome on October 28, 1956. He first worked in parishes in Portsmouth and Fareham.

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County Cork - Irish Free State - Priest - Prior Park College - Bath, England - Rome, Italy - Gregorian University - Rome - October 28 - 1956 - Portsmouth - Fareham

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In 1966 Murphy-O'Connor became private secretary and chaplain to the Bishop of Portsmouth, the (now deceased) Rt Rev. Derek Worlock, later Archbishop of Liverpool. In September 1970, he was appointed parish priest in Portswood, Southampton. Soon afterwards, however, in late 1971, he was appointed Rector of the Venerable English College, Rome, with responsibility for the training of students for the priesthood. As Rector he hosted the Archbishop of Canterbury, Frederick Donald Coggan, on his historic visit to Pope Paul VI in 1977.

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Bishop of Portsmouth - Archbishop of Liverpool - Southampton - Rector - Venerable English College - Rome - Archbishop of Canterbury - Frederick Donald Coggan - Pope Paul VI

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On December 21, 1977, Murphy-O'Connor was ordained Bishop of Arundel and Brighton. He held important roles in the network of bishops across Europe and was also influential in ecumenical work; from 1982 to 2000 he was Co-Chairman of the Anglican and Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC). In 2000 he was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity by the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, in recognition of his work for Christian unity.

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December 21 - 1977 - Bishop of Arundel and Brighton - Anglican - ARCIC - George Carey

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Murphy-O'Connor was installed as Archbishop of Westminster on March 22, 2000, and in November 2000 he was elected President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. In February 2001 he was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II, and was apponted as Cardinal with the Title of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. He was considered an outsider for the papacy but thought more likely to play the role of kingmaker in the 2005 conclave to select a successor to the late Pope.

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Archbishop of Westminster - March 22 - 2000 - Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales - Pope John Paul II - Cardinal - Santa Maria sopra Minerva - 2005 conclave

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The Cardinal was appointed to four Roman Curia offices: the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, the Pontifical Council for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, and the Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family. He also sits on Vatican committees on culture and youth. He was one of the Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005 who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.

Related Topics:
Roman Curia - Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments - Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See - Pontifical Council for the Study of Organisational and Economic Problems of the Holy See - Presidential Committee of the Pontifical Council for the Family - Cardinal electors in Papal conclave, 2005 - 2005 papal conclave - Pope Benedict XVI

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In August 2001 the Cardinal was created a Freeman of the City of London.

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In 2002, at Sandringham, he became the first Roman Catholic cleric since 1680 to preach a sermon to the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom.

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