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Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Richard Moth as the new archbishop of Westminster, replacing the retiring Cardinal Vincent Nichols in a move that continues a significant leadership transition in English-speaking Catholic communities.
Moth, 67, will oversee the largest British diocese in terms of Catholic population and clergy. The London-based Westminster archdiocese is considered the mother church for Catholics in England and Wales.
This high-profile appointment comes just one day after Leo named Bishop Ronald Hicks, 58, to succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan as archbishop of New York, one of the most influential positions in the American Catholic Church.
Both Nichols and Dolan represented cornerstones of English-speaking Catholic leadership for over a decade, having been appointed to their positions in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. While Nichols developed a closer association with Pope Francis, who made him a cardinal in 2014 and kept him in his role well beyond the standard retirement age of 75, Dolan aligned more with the church’s conservative wing.
Dolan had submitted his resignation to Francis in February upon turning 75, as required by church law. Pope Leo accepted it 10 months later, shortly after Dolan established a $300 million settlement fund for victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The appointments signal Leo’s intention to enforce the 75-year retirement age more strictly, a policy he outlined to Italian bishops last month as essential for church renewal. “We must prevent inertia from slowing necessary change, even for good intentions,” the Pope stated on November 25, though he indicated that cardinals might still receive two-year extensions.
Moth brings significant experience to his new role. Born in Chingola, Zambia, he has served as bishop of Arundel and Brighton since 2015 and previously held the position of bishop to the British armed forces.
In a separate announcement, Leo accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald Barbarito, 75, from the Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida. His replacement, Rev. Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, comes from Our Lady of Sorrows church in Queens, New York City—the largest parish in the Brooklyn Diocese with 17,000 congregants, primarily from Hispanic communities. The parish suffered devastating losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 100 parishioners dying.
Rodríguez has been a vocal advocate for migrants, who comprise the majority of his congregation. His appointment to lead the Palm Beach diocese—home to former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club—comes amid tensions between Catholic leadership and Trump’s immigration policies. In an interview Friday, Rodríguez expressed the Catholic Church’s willingness to help the president improve his approach to immigration.
“When it comes to enforcing immigration laws, we shouldn’t be enforcing them by focusing on deporting 5-year-olds, 12-year-olds, 9-year-old kids, people that have never committed any crime,” he said. “We’re here to help. We’re willing to help, and God willing, we will.”
Catholic leaders in the United States have consistently criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, which they say have separated families and disrupted communities served by Catholic churches and schools. The administration has defended these measures as necessary for public safety and national security.
These appointments reflect Pope Leo’s broader strategy to rejuvenate church leadership while addressing pressing social issues, positioning new leaders who may better connect with younger generations of Catholics while maintaining the church’s traditional values and advocacy role.
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10 Comments
The transitions in the English-speaking Catholic leadership are notable. I’m curious to see how the new archbishops will approach issues like social justice, interfaith relations, and addressing the church’s past scandals.
As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with issues like declining membership and scandals, these leadership transitions could have significant implications. I’m curious to see the priorities and vision of the new archbishops.
You raise a good point. The new archbishops will have their work cut out for them in restoring trust and relevance for the Church.
These appointments are an opportunity for the Church to chart a new course. The new archbishops will need to navigate complex challenges while upholding Catholic teachings.
Well said. It will be crucial for them to balance tradition and reform in a way that resonates with modern congregations.
The appointment of younger bishops like Hicks and Moth reflects the need for the church to adapt to the modern era. It will be important to see how they balance tradition and reform.
Definitely, the church faces many challenges in today’s world and fresh leadership may be able to chart a path forward.
Interesting to see the generational shift happening in the Catholic leadership. Curious to see how the new archbishops will navigate the changing dynamics within the church.
Agreed, these appointments signal a move towards a more progressive direction for the English-speaking Catholic hierarchy.
It’s interesting to see the Pope making these changes to the English-speaking hierarchy. I wonder if it signals a desire for a more progressive direction for the Church in those regions.