LONDON, OCT. 26, 2001 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II has appointed Bishop Peter Smith to be the new archbishop of Cardiff, Wales. Bishop Smith has been head of the Diocese of East Anglia, England, since 1995.
He will succeed Archbishop John Aloysius Ward, who led Cardiff since 1983.
Following a deep vein thrombosis in November 2000, Archbishop Ward was relieved of the pastoral care of the archdiocese. Following a meeting with John Paul II on Oct. 18, the archbishop´s resignation was accepted.
Wrexham Bishop Edwin Regan has been apostolic administrator of Cardiff since December. He will continue in this role until Bishop Smith´s installation.
Peter Smith was born Oct. 21, 1943, in Battersea, London. He was educated by the Xaverian Brothers at Clapham, and at Exeter University, where he gained a bachelor of laws degree. He studied for the priesthood at St John´s Seminary, Wonersh, and was ordained July 15, 1972.
In Rome he earned a doctorate in canon law summa cum laude from the University of St Thomas Aquinas in 1977. On returning to England, he was appointed professor of canon law at St John´s Seminary.
In 1984, he was appointed to St Andrew´s, Thornton Heath, but returned to St John´s Seminary the following year as rector. On March 21, 1995, he was appointed second bishop of East Anglia.
Bishop Smith was a member of the independent Review on Child Protection in the Catholic Church which was chaired by Lord Nolan. The final report of the review, «A Programme for Action,» was published in September.
