Pope Congratulates Cardinal O'Brien on his Silver Jubilee

Pope Benedict XVI has sent a personal message of congratulations to Cardinal Keith O'Brien on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his Episcopal ordination.

Cardinal O'Brien became the Archbishop of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh in 1985. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at which the congratulatory message will be read by Mgr. Vincent Brady from the Apostolic Nuciature.

In his message, Pope Benedict XVI writes, to "congratulate you on your long and fruitful ministry" he commends the Cardinal for having "helped foster the faith of your people by your advice and good example".

Pope Benedict also pays tribute to Cardinal O'Brien's long interest in the developing world, complimenting the way he has supported "various needy diocese in Africa, Asia and Latin America."

The message concludes with a blessing to the Cardinal and the people of his diocese.

Responding to the message, Cardinal O'Brien said;

"I am honoured to receive this heartfelt message from the Pope and humbled by the compliments he pays. I am especially grateful for the promise of his prayers for all the people of the Archdiocese of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh whom it has been my pleasure to serve as Archbishop for the past 25 years."

ENDS


Peter Kearney
Director
Catholic Media Office
5 St. Vincent Place
Glasgow
G1 2DH
0141 221 1168
07968 122291
pk@scmo.org
www.scmo.org

Note to Editors:

1. The Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh at 7pm on Wednesday 8 September 2010

2. Guests will include; all members of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, Bishop Seumas Haggerty, Bishop of Derry,  Bishop Philip Boyce, Bishop of Rathoe, HE Francis Campbell, British Ambassador to the Holy See and many priests from across Scotland.

3. You are invited to send a reporter/photographer/camera crew to the Cathedral