The Archbishop of Canterbury this morning said:

"I am delighted to learn of the appointment of Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor to the Archdiocese of Westminster, and Bishop Vincent Nichols to the Archdiocese of Birmingham. I have come to know both men well, and regard them with great esteem.

"Bishop Murphy-O'Connor has worked tirelessly for many years for better ecumenical relations and I value and appreciate his stamina, his tenacity and his shrewd ability to find a constructive way forward.

"These qualities were well reflected in his work as the Roman Catholic Co-Chairman of ARCIC, the Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission.

"I was also delighted to have the opportunity last year to mark that dedication by awarding him the first Lambeth Doctorate in Divinity to a Roman Catholic Bishop since the Reformation!

"I look forward greatly to deepening our friendship and co-operation in future, on behalf of all those we seek to serve.

"Bishop Nichols has been a highly effective advocate and a constructive ally in the field of education. I value highly the co-operation and understanding between the Department for Catholic Education of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, which he has chaired, and the Church of England's Board of Education.

"I am confident that the friendship and co-operative spirit we have forged will continue to flourish."