The lure of Europe
It is customary for Cardinal Archbishops of Westminster to accompany Archbishops of Canterbury when they call on the Pope. So Cardinal Vincent Nichols will be missed at the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of the Anglican Centre in Rome next week, when Archbishop Justin Welby is to meet Pope Francis.

The Tablet has learned that he will instead be at the Plenary Assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, whose President, Cardinal Peter Erdo, is said to be retiring soon and will need replacing.
Might this have anything to do with the keen interest that Cardinal Nichols has shown in Europe? During the visit of a relic of St Thomas Becket to Britain, he said the “European saint” was a reminder that the deep roots of Europe need to be watered.