On hearing the news that Archbishop Rowan Williams is to succeed Dr George Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said:

'I warmly welcome the appointment of Rowan Williams to succeed George Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury. As a theologian of distinction, a man of deep spirituality and a gifted communicator he will, I have no doubt, prove to be a force for great good in this country and throughout the Christian world.

'These are challenging times for Christians leaders. I look forward to working closely with Archbishop Rowan Williams in facing those challenges, just as I do now alongside Archbishop George Carey.'