NEW ARCHBISHOP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21285, 23 December 1943, Page 4

NEW ARCHBISHOP

DR. BERNARD GRIFFIN WESTMINSTER POST (11 am) • LONDON, Dec. 22. The Pope has appointed as Archbishop of Westminster the RL Rev. Bernard Griffin, aged 44, auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Williams, of Birmingham. , , Archbishop Griffin, who succeeds the late Cardinal Hinsley, was born in Birmingham and served in the Navy and Royal Air Force m the last W jfe was ordained a priest in 1924. He is one of the best-known priests in the Roman Catholic province of Birmingham. He is described as a born appiinistrator, brilliant scholar, and ar, eloquent preacher. . The Press Association says that me appointment surprised Roman Cotholic circles in London. Archbishop Griffin was not regarded as one of the likely candidates and his appointment was quite unexpected. The Exchange and Telegraph Agency says that Archbishop Griffm s appointment was most favourably received among the Catholic cloigy qf Westminster. It is the. first appointment made through the Apostolic Delegation which was set up in London to represent the Vatican and Britain during the war. Archbishop Griffin is probably the first red-haired man to take over Westminster and is also the youngest, with the exception of Cardinal Bourne.