News & Events
Former Bishop of Leeds created cardinal by Pope Francis

Arthur Roche has been created a Cardinal by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica.

The former Bishop of Leeds and Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments was one of 20 men to receive the symbols of the cardinalate – the red skullcap, biretta, ring, and the bull assigning the title and rank. He then received an embrace of peace from Pope Francis, a gesture repeated immediately afterward by the Cardinal Dean, the senior Cardinal Priest and senior Cardinal Deacon, representing the entire College of Cardinals.

Former Bishop of Leeds created cardinal by Pope Francis

Arthur Roche has been created a Cardinal by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica.

The former Bishop of Leeds and Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments was one of 20 men to receive the symbols of the cardinalate – the red skullcap, biretta, ring, and the bull assigning the title and rank. He then received an embrace of peace from Pope Francis, a gesture repeated immediately afterward by the Cardinal Dean, the senior Cardinal Priest and senior Cardinal Deacon, representing the entire College of Cardinals.

The new cardinals hail from five continents and four new countries were represented – Mongolia, Paraguay, Singapore and East Timor. Sixteen are under the age of 80, hence eligible to serve as electors in a future Conclave, and four non-electors, over the age of 80.

At the conclusion, the new Cardinals approved the canonisation of the founder of the Scalabrinians, Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, and Salesian layman, Artemide Zatti.

The Pope then left the Basilica through the Door of Prayer with the new Cardinals, and proceeded to the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican Gardens to visit and greet Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Cardinal Roche then greeted the faithful of Rome and those visiting from England and Wales for the customary post-Consistory congratulatory visits. These visits took place in the Paul VI Hall and the Apostolic Palace.

The new Cardinals are scheduled to gather together on 29 and 30 August for two days of in-depth study on Praedicate Evangelium.

Finally, on Tuesday 30 August 5:30pm Rome time, they celebrate Mass together with Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica.

Related News & Events
Back to all

Year of Prayer retreat day – Heald Green, Saturday June 1
Visitation of Fatima relics of Ss Jacinta and Francisco to Romiley, Stockport, June 15
Pastoral Letter – On the Month of Mary
Government announces consultation to lift admissions cap on faith schools
Growth in Holiness – Prayer and the Spiritual Life Workshop offering for Parishes
Year of Prayer Webinar with Sycamore – May 15th 2024
Annual Diocesan Safeguarding Report 2024
Rediscover the great Catholic prayer of the Rosary, says Bishop at Chrism Mass
Letter of Pope Francis promoting the Jubilee Year 2025
Prayer and Life Workshops – ongoing series St Mary’s Crewe
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Mark Davies for the First Sunday of Lent 2024
Prayer and Life Workshops – ongoing series St Alban’s, Macclesfield
Parish Retreat Days for the Year of Prayer
Stella Maris port chaplains fight modern slavery
Year of Prayer Resources for Parishes
Diocesan Mass for the Celebration of Marriage – June 2024
Sacramental Marriage Preparation: September 2024 Dates
Safeguarding – Victim & Survivor Commitment from Bishop Mark Davies
Adoremus – National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress – Sept 2024
Shrewsbury stands with abuse victims in support for LOUDfence
Christmas Midnight Mass homily 2023
Podcast Series: An Introduction to the Second Vatican Council
Prayer Comes First: Advent Pastoral Letter from Bishop Mark Davies
Holywell elevated to status of national shrine
‘At the Hour of Our Death’: A pastoral letter from the Bishop of Shrewsbury, October 29 2023
Homily at the Dedication of the New Altar of Shrewsbury Cathedral, October 22nd 2023
Time to re-propose marriage as a true path to holiness, says Bishop Davies
Homily at Mass for the annual Diocesan Celebration of Marriage, St Columba’s Church, Chester, October 14 2023
Bishop of Shrewsbury blesses and dedicates parish hall for Hale Barns
Bishop of Shrewsbury ordains two men to the priesthood
New Nuncio presents diplomatic credentials to King Charles III
Loving 4 Life – Retreats for Married Couples October 2024
Bishop of Shrewsbury ordains Fr David Irwin to priesthood
Lenten Pastoral Letter: On Our Christian Struggle
Cardinal Nichols gives ‘Loyal Address’ to King Charles III ahead of Coronation
Judge dismisses ‘thought crimes’ charges against duo who prayed outside abortion clinic
Pastoral Letter on the Death of Pope Benedict XVI
Homily of Bishop Mark Davies at Requiem Mass for Pope Benedict XVI
Bishop of Shrewsbury pays tribute to Pope Benedict XVI
Wirral church hosts day of prayer for Elle Edwards
Homily at the Midnight Mass of the Nativity of the Lord  2022
Christmas message from the Bishop of Shrewsbury
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle resigns under pressures of office
Bishop warns faithful of rise of ‘dangerous ideologies’ as Christians become minority
Catholics loan St Chad relic to Anglican cathedral
Pope Francis names new Bishop of East Anglia
Bishop Mark dedicates St Joseph’s, Stockport, as a Eucharistic shrine of Perpetual Adoration
Statement from the Catholic Council for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse on the Final Report
Bishop Mark welcomes relics of St Bernadette to St Werburgh’s Chester
Cardinal Nichols offers intercession at funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Video: Bishop Davies preaches in the presence of the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes
Bishop welcomes relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes to Shrewsbury Cathedral
What the Synod process is, and what it is not: A reflection by Barbara Davies
Pope leads Catholic Church in mourning death of Queen Elizabeth II
Bishop Davies: St Bernadette’s relics should serve as a ‘call to holiness’
Former Bishop of Leeds created cardinal by Pope Francis
Shrewsbury Diocesan Synod Report
A blessing for the month of May
New website launched