President of the Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to the priests of his diocese – Westminster – to express his ongoing concern for their wellbeing and to ask them to comply with Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “painful and difficult” instruction to close churches to the public.
Cardinal Nichols writes, first and foremost, to encourage priests to stay safe and support each other – by phone or digital means – and to ask that they pray for each other and their bishops.
“It is essential that we all follow this instruction, painful and difficult though it is.
“Please do continue celebrating Mass daily, remembering in your prayers your parishioners and all the people of this country.
“You should not ask anyone to travel to the church to be with you or to assist you.”
