Archbishop joins Cardinal ranks

Cormac Murphy O'Connor is a charismatic church figure

The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cormac Murphy O'Connor, has been chosen to join the ranks of the Pope's closest advisers.

The Most Reverend Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who is one of the Pope's 37 newly-appointed cardinals, is seen as a charismatic and popular figure in the church and as progressive in his views on the Catholic religion.

He took over as leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales following the death of cardinal Basil Hume in June 1999.

At 67, he was the oldest candidate on the shortlist of names sent to the Vatican to succeed Cardinal Hume.

Prior to his appointment as Archbishop of Westminster last March, he had been the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton for 22 years.

He was born at Reading in Berkshire on 24 August 1932, the fifth son of Dr George Murphy-O'Connor and his wife Ellen, who were from Cork.

Training for the priesthood

He began training for the priesthood in 1950 at the Venerable English College in Rome.

While at the college, he took a degree in philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained priest in Rome in 1956.

Opposed separation of Siamese twins

He spent the next 15 years in the UK in various roles within the Catholic church before returning to Italy in 1971 as Rector of the English College in Rome, giving him responsibility for the training of students for the priesthood.

The Most Reverend Cormac Murphy-O'Connor returned to England in 1977 to take up his post at Brighton.

Throughout his varied career, he has held many distinguished roles within the Roman Catholic Church, and was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, in recognition of all his work for ecumenism.

He has been particularly interested in youth work, sacramental programmes and the development of small communities and has campaigned for Christian unity.

Siamese twins

More recently he took part in the very public debate on the ethics of separating the Siamese twins Jodie and Mary.

Archbishop Murphy-O'Connor submitted evidence to the Court of Appeal, which ruled on the case, urging for the operation to be refused.

Under current church rules, he can serve as Archbishop of Westminster for eight years, before retirement at 75.

The ceremony to elevate him to his new role as one of the Pope's cardinals, will take place on 21 February.

The cardinals, who wear red hats and robes, are the Pope's closest advisers in Rome and around the world.

They will help choose a successor to Pope John Paul II after his death.