Gift from Cardinal Vincent Nichols for the Church in the Holy Land

We were very pleased to hear the wonderful news that Pope Francis will make Archbishop Vincent, a valued Patron of FHL, a Cardinal at the next Consistory on 22 February. Friends in the Archdioceses of Birmingham, Liverpool and Westminster will already know that their Bishops suggested a gift from their parishes or parishioners as a sign of their congratulation and affection for him at this time, and in recognition of the honour bestowed on him by Pope Francis. Archbishop Vincent has asked that this gift be offered in his name to the suffering Church in the Holy Land, through the FHL, which he helped to found.

FHL is honoured that he has asked us to do this for him. With his blessing, FHL designed a flyer to increase awareness of the plight of the Christians over there and decided to include a special prayer card for the intentions of Archbishop Vincent and the Christians in the Holy Land.

Further details are on the FHL website –  www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

Archbishop Nichols will be formally appointed Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church at the Consistory on February 22, the Feast of St Peter’s Chair – the beginning of his episcopal ministry which first became established in Antioch, where Patriarch Gregorios III Laham of the Melkites is the Catholic successor of Peter (the Maronite patriarch Bouchara Boutros al-Rahi and Syriac Catholic patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan are also of Antioch), Patriarch Youhanna X Yazigi is the Orthodox successor and Ignatius Zakka I Iwas is the Syriac Orthodox successor.