Bishop Philip writes…
Yesterday, 29th September 2025, was an important anniversary for the Catholic Church in our countries. On that day 175 years ago, Pope Pius IX through the Papal Bull Universalis Ecclesiae restored the Catholic hierarchy in England and Wales creating 13 new dioceses. There was still strong anti-Catholic sentiment in the country at the time, and to avoid contention the name of Westminster was chosen for the new Metropolitan See rather than the ancient title of London. On 29th September 1850, Nicholas Wiseman was appointed as the first Archbishop of Westminster and elevated to the rank of cardinal the following day. He was the first English cardinal since the Reformation. Catholic emancipation was a long-running movement in the 19th century spearheaded by Daniel O’Connell, an Irish barrister and MP who set up the Catholic Association in 1823 to bring an end to religious discrimination against Catholics in the UK. The so-called Catholic Emancipation Act, the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, allowed Catholics to sit as MPs and hold most public offices. Twenty-one years later, in 1850, Pope Pius IX restored the hierarchy.
Meanwhile, welcome to this e-News for Tuesday 30th September 2025. Thank you to those who have sent in their news for this week. If you have a good news story to tell or an event to advertise, please email Deacon Craig for inclusion in the next edition. Have a blessed week ahead.
In Corde Iesu
+ Philip
Bishop of Portsmouth
