Bishops of England and Wales make history at autumn plenary meeting in Cardiff

THE BISHOPS of England and Wales held their first-ever meeting in Wales last week. During the four-day event the bishops discussed a wide range of issues from liturgy and worship to social and international affairs. During Mass, concelebrated with all the bishops at St David’s Cathedral in Cardiff, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said the bishops were “delighted” to be in Wales. The visit was a sign of the communion between English and Welsh Catholics, who, he said, shared a common task of spreading the Gospel message. Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff hosted a reception for the bishops at the Marriot Hotel in Cardiff. Special guests included the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of the National Assembly of Wales; Jaqui Casson, Lord Mayor of Cardiff; Saleen Kidwae of the Muslim Council of Wales; the Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales; Rt Rev Dominic Walker, Bishop of Monmouth; Kathleen Smith, Mayor of Conwy; David Melding from the National Assembly of Wales and representatives from Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot Borough Councils.