O’Toole becomes Bishop of Plymouth

The first new bishop of England and Wales appointed by Pope Francis was ordained on Tuesday.

Mgr Mark O’Toole, the former rector of the Allen Hall seminary and one-time private secretary to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, became the ninth Bishop of Plymouth in a special ceremony in the city’s cathedral.

Mgr O’Toole was consecrated by his predecessor, Bishop Christopher Budd, who retired after 27 years in office. The ordination was conducted in a packed cathedral and the co-consecrators included Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Cardinal-designate Vincent Nichols, the Archbishops of Cardiff, Southwark and Birmingham, and the papal nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, together with most of the bishops of England and Wales.

In his homily, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor referred to the gospel of John 21:15-19 in which Jesus told Simon Peter, “Feed my sheep”. “The task of a bishop is to lead you [the people] in faith”, said the cardinal, adding that a bishop “needs a heart to govern, to understand your people”.

“If there is one thing a bishop wishes for,” he went on, “it is to be a good shepherd.” He also cited Pope Francis who told nuncios last year that they need to choose pastors who are close to the people and who must watch over their flocks.

Dozens of priests from the Diocese of Plymouth and from Bishop O’Toole’s former diocese of Westminster attended the ordination, together with seminarians from Allen Hall, and hundreds of people from Plymouth Diocese which stretches from Dorset to Land’s End. The guests included representatives of the Queen, Cherie Blair, Lord Guthrie, Lord Brennan QC and Baroness (Sheila) Hollins.

In a Mass lasting nearly three hours, with music by Colin Mawby, James MacMillan and Elgar, the document authorising Bishop O’Toole’s appointment and signed by Pope Francis was carried to the altar.