LONDON, JAN. 8, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O´Connor praised the «integrity, zeal and courage» of the primate of the Anglican Church, who announced his forthcoming retirement today.
When he learned that Dr. George Carey will retire as archbishop of Canterbury on Oct. 31, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster said: «Archbishop George Carey and I are good friends and I have appreciated very much our collaboration in ecumenical endeavors.»
«Dr. Carey has had to live through some difficult times as archbishop of Canterbury,» the cardinal added. «As leader of the Anglican Communion, he emerged as someone of immense integrity, zeal and courage.»
«I am sure there will be very many, like myself, who will express their appreciation of his considerable achievements in a most demanding role and who will miss him when he steps down as archbishop,» concluded the cardinal, who is primate of the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
The Crown Appointments Commission will draw up a short list of candidates for the post of archbishop of Canterbury, which will be discussed with Prime Minister Tony Blair. At the end of the discussions, the commission will put forward two names, from which Blair will choose one.
According to The Times newspaper of London, the most likely candidates to replace Dr. Carey are the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, bishop of London; the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, archbishop of Wales; and the Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali, bishop of Rochester.
