Breaking news: New archbishop brings Papal message to the young

After his Episcopal ordination this morning, Mgr Leo Cushley will reveal that Pope Francis has asked him to take special care of the young people of St Andrews and Edinburgh

The newly ordained Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh will make a special plea this morning asking young Catholics to carry the Gospel forwards to the next generation.

After his Episcopal ordination at 11am, Mgr Leo Cushley (above), named as the next Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh by Pope Francis on July 24, will convey a special message for the young people of the archdiocese from the Holy Father.

“He told me to have a special care for all of you, and to make sure that you have the best preparation for your adult lives from our Catholic schools,” Archbishop Cushley is expected to say.

“You are the future —you are our future fathers and mothers, priests and sisters. Sitting among you are the next priests of this Archdiocese: you will stand here too one day and guide this Church. This is your greatest challenge—don’t be afraid to become priests, to pick up where we will leave off and to give the Gospel, entire and whole, to the next generation.

“Dear young people, all our eyes are fixed on you, for you are our future and our hope! … May God bless all of you abundantly!”

The new archbishop, originally from Motherwell Diocese, is to be consecrated by Cardinal James Harvey, from Wisconsin, US, Mgr Cushley’s first superior in the Secretariat of State and long-time colleague in the diplomatic service, at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh at 11am this morning in front of a congregation expected to include First Minister Alex Salmond.

Cardinal Harvey, who himself worked as a deacon in a parish Edinburgh in the summer of 1974, has said he was very happy to be back in Edinburgh for such a special occasion.

“I am delighted and honoured to part of this historic moment in the life of the Church of St Andrews and Edinburgh,” the cardinal said. “Archbishop Cushley brings many gifts of mind and heart to his new office. I am convinced that these gifts, suitable for prudent pastoral governance, will redound to the good of this archdiocese and beyond.”

The cardinal’s co consecrators today will be Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, and Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, in his capacity as Apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh,

Dr Lorna Hood, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Bishop John Armes Episcopal, Bishop of Edinburgh, and Nigel Baker, the British Ambassador to the Holy See, together with the Catholic bishops of Scotland and other civic and religious dignitaries are expected to join the First Minister in the congregation for the Archbishop’s installation.