Pope Benedict XVI announces appointment of Archbishop Peter Smith to Southwark

The following is the text of a press release from the Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed the Most Reverend Peter Smith, until now Archbishop of Cardiff, as the new Archbishop of Southwark

Archbishop Smith was named the tenth Bishop of Southwark on 30 April 2010. He succeeds the Most Reverend Kevin McDonald (2003-2009).

Archbishop Smith was born on 21 October 1943, ordained priest on 15 July 1972, ordained Bishop of East Anglia on 27 May 1995, transferred to Cardiff on 26 October 2001.

After receiving news of his appointment, Archbishop Smith said:

“After eight very happy years in the Archdiocese of Cardiff, I am very sad to be leaving Wales.

“Over these years I have enjoyed working with the priests, deacons, religious and laity of the Archdiocese in Wales and Herefordshire and thank them for their help and co-operation in so many areas of Diocesan life and work. I am especially grateful for their support in bringing about the re-organisation of pastoral provision for the Catholic community, and fostering the mission of the Church in so many ways. My experience of the Archdiocese is that the spirit of St. David is still very much alive and summed up in his dying words: 'Be joyful; keep the faith.'

“I should also like to thank the leaders of the other Christian Churches communities, and the leaders of other faiths in Wales. We have enjoyed a fruitful dialogue and relationship to the benefit of our particular communities and wider society. I have found the civic authorities, in particular the Welsh Assembly Government and Local Authorities, have been unfailingly courteous and helpful, as has the local media. I am deeply grateful for that too.

“I shall never forget the warmth and generosity of the people of Wales, not only the Catholic community but so many others, and their great sense of humour and cheerfulness.

“However, my sadness at leaving is tempered by the prospect of returning to my roots in South London and going home to the Archdiocese in which I was born and for which I was ordained a priest in 1972. I am very much looking forward to that and to serving the people, religious, deacons and priests of the Archdiocese of Southwark as their Bishop. It is good to be returning home, although I feel there is part of me which will always have a 'second home' in Wales.”

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said: “I am delighted at the appointment of Archbishop Peter Smith as Archbishop of Southwark, while at the same time sympathising with the priests, religious and people of Cardiff. Archbishop Peter is an outstanding and experienced leader. He will be warmly welcomed back to his home diocese, just as he will be sorely missed in Cardiff. I can assure him of the prayers and good wishes of us all.”

Bishop John Hine, who will continue as Diocesan Administrator in Southwark until the installation of Archbishop Peter Smith on 10 June, said:

“The priests and people of Southwark are absolutely delighted about the news of the appointment of Archbishop Peter Smith to our Diocese. He is, of course, well known to so many of us and we can hardly believe our good fortune that he will back here leading us at this very significant phase of our Diocesan story.”

Archbishop Smith will be installed as Archbishop of Southwark at St George’s Cathedral, Southwark on 10 June 2010.

The Most Revd Peter David Smith LLB, JCD

Born 21 st October 1943 in Battersea, London .

Educated: Clapham College ; Exeter University , LLB 1966; St John's Seminary, Wonersh; Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome , JCD 1977. Ordained Priest: 5 th July 1972.
Assistant Priest, St Francis, Stockwell, 1972–74

Professor of Canon Law, St John's Seminary, Wonersh, 1977–84

Parish Priest, St Andrew's Thornton Heath, 1984-85

Rector St John's Seminary, Wonersh, 1985-95

Bishop of East Anglia, 1995-2001

Archbishop of Cardiff , 2001 – 2010

Chairman of the Department of Christian Responsibility and Citizenship of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales , 1998 –

Chairman of the Catholic Truth Society, 1993-2007

Chairman of the Central Religious Advisory Committee (CRAC) of the BBC and ITC, 2001-2004

Honorary Fellow, St Edmund's College Cambridge, 1997

Sub-Prelate and Chaplain of the Order of St John of Jerusalem , 2002

Honorary Fellow, University of Wales , Lampeter, 2004

Honorary Fellow, Cardiff University , 2006

Archbishop of Southwark, 2010 -