Monsignor Leo Cushley Named As Cardinal Keith O'brien's Successor

Herald Scotland
July 24, 2013

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/monsignor-leo-cushley-appointed-as-cardinal-keith-obriens-successor.1374660523

Monsignor Leo Cushley has been appointed Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh by the Catholic Church, replacing Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who left the post earlier this year after admitting inappropriate sexual conduct.

Monsignor Leo Cushley. Picture: Gordon Terris.

The new Archbishop will take over the governance of the Archdiocese from Archbishop Philip Tartaglia who has been Apostolic Administrator following the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who was Archbishop from August 1985 until March 2013.

Mgr Cushley, 52, is currently head of the English-language section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State and has been a close collaborator of both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

In that capacity, Mgr Cushley has been regularly involved in the visits of heads of state and other important guests to the Holy See, inmcluding Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As head of the English section of the Secretariat of State it was his task to accompany the Holy Father to English-speaking countries.

During 2010, he accompanied Pope Benedict to Malta and Cyprus as well as the UK. During that visit, at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Mgr Cushley had the pleasure of presenting his family to Pope Benedict.

Commenting on his appointment, Mgr Cushley said: "I am humbled that our Holy Father Pope Francis has nominated me for such an important task here in our ancient capital. I know it's a delicate moment and that there is a lot to be done, but with God's grace and the kind support of the clergy and people of Edinburgh, I will work cheerfully and willingly with all the energy I can muster.

"There are certain important questions that I will also have to familiarise myself with. I have no jurisdiction in the diocese until after I have been ordained in late September. Only then will I be able to take stock of what has happened and see what can be done"

Mgr Cushley counts among his pastimes hillwalking in the Scottish mountains and in the Abruzzi region of central Italy.

He has driven between Rome and Scotland seven times but his new role will mean that he will now surrender his distinctive Vatican number plate as well as his diplomatic passport.

Mgr Cushley is also a regular jogger and listens to audiobooks while running/walking 10km three times a week in Rome. He enjoys watching golf and was at the Open Championship at Muirfield last Saturday.

Musically his tastes range from U2 to opera by Puccini, Verdi or Mozart.

Born in Airdrie to Bill and Eileen Cushley, he has a brother Kenneth, an electrician, and sister, Carey, a primary school teacher.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 at St John the Baptist's, Uddingston, by Bishop Joseph Devine.