The Archbishop of Westminster and Peter Jennings have presented the Holy See’s new representative to Great Britain with a copy of the official book of the Pope Benedict’s visit last September.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols and the book’s author Mr Jennings presented Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the new Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Court of St James with a copy of Benedict XVI and Blessed John Henry Newman, The State Visit –September 2010 The Official Record before the Mass at Westminster Cathedral welcoming him to Britain.
Mr Jennings reported: “Archbishop Mennini was delighted to receive the book. Archbishop Nichols, the principal celebrant, warmly welcomed Archbishop Antonio Mennini, aged 63, a native of Rome, at the start of Mass.”
Fr Marcus Stock, General Secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, read the official letter from the Holy See appointing Archbishop Mennini, who had served as nuncio to the Russian Federation since 2003, as Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.
Archbishop Nichols then introduced Archbishop Mennini to Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, retired Archbishop Kevin McDonald of Southwark, the Bishops of England and Wales, and Mgr Keith Newton, Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, who all greeted him.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the former Archbishop of Westminster, was seated next to the Nuncio in the sanctuary.
Archbishop Mennini presented his letter of credentials to the Queen in an official ceremony at the beginning of March.