Bishop Richard Moth Appointed New Archbishop of Westminster

His Sacredness The Right Reverend Richard Moth was named Archbishop of Westminster by Pope Leo XIV today, December 19. Archbishop-elect Moth was ordained on July 3, 1982, for the Archdiocese of Southwark. Since 2015,

Richard Moth has been the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton. He served as the Catholic Bishop of the Forces from 2009 to 2015 before that.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who has held the position since 2009, will be replaced by Archbishop-elect Moth as the 12th Archbishop of Westminster. Until Archbishop-elect Moth is installed in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, February 14, 2026, Cardinal Nichols will serve as the Diocese of Westminster’s Apostolic Administrator.

Archbishop-elect Richard Moth  stated the following after learning of his appointment:

“I am moved greatly by the trust that Pope Leo has placed in me, in appointing me to the Diocese of Westminster. As I prepare to move to the Diocese, I am so grateful for the support being given to me by Cardinal Vincent Nichols at this time. He has given dedicated service to the Diocese and will be missed greatly.

“Serving the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton has given me the wonderful opportunity of sharing the Church’s mission with lay faithful and clergy, and I give thanks for the many blessings of these last ten years.

“My first task will be to get to know the priests and people of Westminster and I look forward, now, to serving them. With them, and building on the firm foundations that have been laid by so many down the years, I look forward to continuing the great adventure that is the life of the Church and witness to the Gospel.”