Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor entered hospital yesterday for hip replacement surgery. The procedure is routine and was carried out this morning. Commenting, a spokesperson for the Cardinal said:

“Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor went into hospital on Wednesday for a hip replacement operation. The operation is on his left hip and took place on Thursday morning.

'The Cardinal will remain in hopsital until just before Christmas and will return to public engagements at the end of January.