Bishop Keenan calls for prayers as Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor’s health takes a ‘defining turn’

BY Amanda Connelly | August 21 | comments icon 0 COMMENTS print icon print

Bishop Keenan calls for prayers as Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor’s health takes a ‘defining turn’

Bishop John Keenan of Paisley has urged people to pray for Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, former Archbishop of Westminster, who has taken seriously ill in hospital.

“Prayers please, even one Hail Mary,” Bishop Keenan said, after it was announced that the 84-year-old cardinal’s health had taken a ‘defining turn.’

Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the UK’s most senior member of clergy, asked that prayers be offered for his predecessor in a letter to all bishops.

“These loving prayers are a source of great strength and comfort as he calmly ponders on all that lies ahead, all in God’s good time,” he said. “May the Lord strengthen him in Faith and trust and may the prayers of the Church, which he loves so much, comfort and uphold him.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor was the former leader of the Church in England and Wales, after being appointed Archbishop of Westminster in 2000 and made a cardinal by Pope St John Paul II in 2001.

Prior to this he was the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton for almost 23 years.

Born in 1932 in Reading as one of six boys, three of his five brothers also became priests, while another played rugby for Ireland.

He was ordained a priest in Rome in October 1956.