The Installation of Archbishop Peter Smith

BENEDICT,
Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God

To our Venerable Brother, Peter Smith,
until recently Archbishop of Cardiff,
now Archbishop elect of the Metropolitan See of Southwark,
We send greetings and Our Apostolic Blessing.

Always conscious of Our most important duty, laid on Us by Christ himself, to provide for the needs of each and every diocese in the Church, and concerned to provide for the present needs of the Archdiocese of Southwark, saddened by the early retirement of its former Pastor, our Venerable Brother Kevin John Patrick McDonald, We thought of you, Venerable Brother, as one certainly seen as fitting to take the place of this previous incumbent. For this reason, having consulted with the Congregation of Bishops and having taken their advice, by these letters, in virtue of our Apostolic Power, We now nominate and appoint you, who have now left the Archdiocese of Cardiff, as Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Southwark.

Duly promulgate the news of your appointment to the clergy and people of your diocese. We encourage them strongly to welcome you with sincere respect, and to give their loyal support to whatever you ask them to undertake. For the rest, Venerable Brother, remember that the more conscientiously you fulfil the duties of this new office, the more clearly will you give witness to, and impart to the faithful given to your care, the grace of salvation won for us by Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Given at St Peter’s, Rome
on the thirtieth day of April
in the year of Our Lord two thousand and ten,
the sixth of Our Pontificate.