The laity will have to become more involved running parishes due to the declining numbers of priests, the Pope's ambassador to Britain has said.

"In the face of this crisis, which nobody can deny, the churches should be pushed to give to the lay people more tasks surrounding the spiritual life of the parishes," Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain said during a meeting with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle's Council of Laity reported by the diocese's newspaper The Northern Cross.

"In Brazil, many parishes see a priest only once a month or once every two months but every Sunday the Eucharistic ministers preach, they read the Gospel and say the sermon," though he added: "Of course, it's not the same as having Mass."

Above: Archbishop Mennini celebrates Mass. Photo: Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk