New bishop for catholic diocese

Canon Cunningham was born in County Mayo, Ireland

A Catholic diocese in the north-east of England is to have a new bishop, it has been announced.

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Canon Seamus Cunningham as the 13th Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

The 66-year-old has served the diocese for more than 40 years and became administrator after Bishop Kevin Dunn died of pneumonia in March 2008.

He will be ordained bishop and installed in St Mary's Cathedral Church in Newcastle on 20 March.

That date is also the feast of St Cuthbert, the patron saint of the diocese, which was established in 1850.

'Surprising' appointment

Canon Cunningham, who studied for the priesthood at St John's College, Waterford in Ireland, was ordained priest for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in 1966.

The former bishop, Kevin Dunn appointed him as the sole vicar general after his own ordination as bishop in 2004.

Bishop-elect Cunningham said: "Although I was surprised to be asked to undertake this task, I am glad that the diocese will not have to face another change of style within very few years.

"I hope to start by continuing Bishop Kevin's initiatives before seeking anew what will be best at this time."