THE new leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales was formally installed in a ceremony at Westminster Cathedral.

More than 2,000 attended a Mass in central London to mark the installation of Crosby-born Most Rev Vincent Nichols, who has served in many NW parishes, including St Anne’s, Toxteth, as 11th Archbishop of Westminster.

The high-profile event included specially composed music for the occasion by leading Scottish composer James MacMillan and Colin Mawby, a former master of music at Westminster Cathedral.

Archbishop Nichols, who wore newly-made gold-coloured vestments for the occasion, was received at the west door of the Cathedral and kneeled momentarily at the threshold of the church before processing to the altar.

During the ceremony, the Papal mandate confirming Archbishop Nichols’s appointment was read aloud, along with the formula of installation, marking the moment he officially became Archbishop of Westminster.

He then received the crozier, or Bishop’s staff, symbolic of his office as bishop from his predecessor, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.

The Mass was attended by clergy from the Archdioceses of Westminster and Birmingham, where he was Archbishop for nine years, as well as lay representatives from parishes, schools and Catholic organisations.

In a Mass lasting more than two hours, the congregation in the packed cathedral heard warm words of praise for Archbishop Nichols in the Papal Mandate, or Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Letter, confirming his appointment.