VATICAN APPOINTMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 24 November 1938, Page 9

VATICAN APPOINTMENT

DELEGATE ArOSTOLIC TO GREAT ' BRITAIN 1 NO DIPLOMATIC STATUS ] I British Official Wireless) < (Received 24th November, 11.59 a.m.) i RUGBY, 23rd November. £ It was announced at Vatican City that t Monsignor William Godfrey, rector of ( the English College at Rome, has been [ appointed delegate apostolic to Great t Britain, with residence in England. t Monsignor Godfrey was a member of t the papal delegation at the Coronation. ( He was born in Liverpool in 1889. He became a priest in 1916 and is a mem- ( ber of the Supreme Council for the £ Propagation of the Faith. It is expect- j ed that he will be nominated a titular c archbishop before coming to Britain in r January. It was explained in Vatican City that the position which Monsignor Godfrey assumes is of ecclesiastical importance in the representation of the Pope to 1 British Catholics, but he will not have c diplomatic status, nor be entrusted with ' a diplomatic mission. Nevertheless, al- c though the appointment is purely cleri- “ cal, Vatican circles, it is reported, are f hopeful that it will contribute to the * maintenance of good relations with £ Britain. t