His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has today, 19 December, appointed the Right Reverend Richard Moth as Archbishop of Westminster.
Ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Southwark on 3 July 1982, Archbishop-elect Moth has served as Bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015. Prior to that, he was the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015.
Archbishop-elect Moth will become the 12th Archbishop of Westminster, succeeding Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has served in the role since 2009. Cardinal Nichols will now become Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Westminster until Archbishop-elect Moth is Installed at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Bishop Stephen Wright said:
“On behalf of our diocesan family may I offer our prayers to Archbishop Elect Richard Moth, the newly appointed Archbishop of Westminster. As we pray for him, we pray for his former Diocese, Arundel and Brighton and for the Archdiocese of Westminster at this time of change.
“Archbishop Elect Richard Moth’s dedication to the Lord’s ministry is inspiring. His experience as the Armed Forces Bishop together with his commitment to evangelisation and social justice will serve our country well in these troubling times.
“As he now moves into retirement we keep Cardinal Vincent Nichols in our prayers. Personally, I have much to thank him for. He ordained me to the priesthood twenty-five years ago and he was my Bishop for nine years. Five years ago, as the President of the Bishops Conference he welcomed me as a newly ordained Bishop. We thank him for his public ministry that took him from Liverpool to Westminster to Birmingham and back to Westminster. We pray he enjoys his long-awaited retirement.
“May I wish you all a blessed and joyful Christmas.”