New archbishop to be unveiled

The new Archbishop of Birmingham, a key position in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, will be announced today.

The successor to Archbishop Vincent Nichols, who left the post earlier this year to be installed as Archbishop of Westminster and leader of Catholics in England and Wales, will be revealed by the Vatican.

The Archdiocese of Birmingham is expected to be the focus of attention within the worldwide Catholic community next year as the venue for the beatification of the Venerable John Henry Newman.

The beatification ceremony will bring Cardinal Newman, who died in 1890, a step closer to becoming England's first non-martyred saint since the Reformation.

Birmingham is expected to be one of the major cities to be visited by Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Britain next year.

The trip will be the first Papal visit to Britain since John Paul II's pastoral visit in 1982.