Vincent Gerard Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, is a long-serving progressive-leaning prelate of the Church in England and Wales who has had a special concern for issues related to assisted dying, human trafficking, and pastoral care for migrants and refugees.

Born on November 8, 1945, in Crosby, Lancashire, England, he began his journey to priesthood by studying at the Venerable English College in Rome from 1963 to 1970, earning licenses in both philosophy and theology from the prestigious Gregorian University. He was ordained as a priest on December 21, 1969, in Rome.

Following his ordination, Nichols took on leadership roles in pastoral care, particularly in Liverpool, where in 1979, he was appointed vice-chancellor of the archdiocese. A year later, he became the director of the Upholland Northern Institute, further solidifying his role in Catholic education and governance.

Nichols continued his education, earning an MA in Theology from Manchester University between 1970 and 1971, and later, an M.Ed from Loyola University in Chicago in 1974.

Then-Father Nichols worked closely with Derek Worlock, the Archbishop of Liverpool from 1976 until 1996, who critics called a “dangerous radical” for his positions, but which Worlock justified through the lens of Catholic social teaching.

After completing his further studies, Nichols quickly rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church. In 1984, he was appointed general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, a significant early milestone in his career. In 1992, at the age of 46, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, becoming the youngest Catholic bishop in the UK at the time.

As Auxiliary, he was responsible for the pastoral care of the northern area of the archdiocese, and he participated in multiple synods in Rome, covering topics such as consecrated life, Oceania, and Europe. Upon the death of Cardinal Hume, Nichols was appointed chief administrator of the archdiocese of Westminster.

His influence continued to grow, and in 2000 he was appointed the Archbishop of Birmingham. Nine years later, in 2009, he reached the highest ecclesiastical position in England and Wales when Pope Benedict XVI chose him to be Archbishop of Westminster. That same year, he was also elected president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In 2014, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of Cardinal.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Nichols has represented the Catholic Church at significant national events, including the services following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of King Charles III. He has also been instrumental in forging strong relationships with the Church of England and other faith groups. His influence extended beyond the UK as he served on various Vatican congregations and commissions.

On life issues, Cardinal Nichols, along with other faith leaders, has warned of the risks posed by assisted suicide legislation, especially to vulnerable people. In an October 2024 letter intended for distribution in his diocesan churches, Nichols urged Catholics to lobby their Members of Parliament to oppose proposed modifications to allow assisted suicide. The cardinal expressed concerns that the suggested alterations could transform the role of healthcare providers from a duty of care to a “duty to kill.”¹The cardinal cautioned that such a significant change in the law would pose a risk of altering the fundamental nature of medical professionals’ responsibilities. He further pointed out that in countries where assisted dying has been legalized, the criteria for its application have continually expanded. He argued that this evidence of a “slippery slope” is clear in every nation that has legalized assisted dying. Nichols warned that changing the law might pressure terminally ill individuals to choose death for various reasons. The Archbishop of Westminster also emphasized the spiritual aspect of suffering, stating that it does not undermine human dignity. He described suffering as a fundamental part of human experience, relating it to the path embraced by Christ. Nichols urged Catholics to write to their MPs to oppose the legalization. His initiative came ahead of a private member’s bill addressing the matter that was formally presented to the House of Commons on Oct. 15. The likelihood of such a bill passing had increased significantly after a landslide Labour victory in a July 2024 general election.

In 2021, Cardinal Nichols praised a woman with Down syndrome who challenged the UK’s abortion law allowing termination up to birth for unborn children with disabilities. He criticized the current UK abortion law, stating that it deals with “codified rights rather than innate human dignity.”

Nichols has also regularly expressed support for migrants and refugees, emphasizing the need for fair and humane treatment. He has also played a significant role in the Santa Marta Group initiative on human trafficking, serving as its president. Both issues are of keen interest to Pope Francis.

Cardinal Nichols’ overall stance on these life issues is grounded in Catholic teaching on defending the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. He advocates protecting vulnerable individuals, promoting palliative care, and recognizing the inherent dignity of all human beings, regardless of their abilities or stage of life.

The cardinal has been mostly tolerant of the traditional Latin Mass in the archdiocese, even after the 2021 publication of Traditionis Custodes, but in 2024 he declined to give permission for the old Latin rite celebration of the Easter Triduum in Westminster, making it the first time since the 1990s that the Easter Triduum would not be celebrated in the archdiocese according to the vetus ordo. Given his past sympathies for the old rite, some believe Nichols’ decision was strategic so that other old rite Masses in the diocese could continue for the rest of the liturgical year.

Aside from his defense of Church teaching and his many achievements, Cardinal Nichols has faced considerable controversy regarding his handling of sexual abuse cases within the Church.

In 2020, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) heavily criticized him for failing to show adequate compassion towards abuse victims, alleging that he prioritized the Church’s reputation over the well-being of the victims. His time as Archbishop of Birmingham also came under scrutiny, with accusations that he mishandled abuse complaints and did not respond properly to victims. Nichols was further criticized for his response to media coverage, particularly for complaining to the BBC in 2003 about its reporting on abuse cases, rather than addressing the root issues.

The IICSA report concluded that Cardinal Nichols “did not always exercise the leadership expected of a senior member of the Church,” suggesting that at times, he was more concerned with protecting the Church’s image. These findings led to public calls for his resignation, though Nichols has maintained his position, stating that he will not step down. Despite offering formal apologies, the controversies surrounding his approach to handling abuse scandals have continued to overshadow his other significant work within the Catholic Church in recent years.

During his tenure at Westminster, the number of priests in the archdiocese fell from 629 in 2010 to 488 in 2022. Over the same period, the number of male religious also dropped, from 356 to 321, and the number of female religious significantly fell by over half, from 1,109 to 465.