The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome have announced the appointment of the Very Rev David Richardson as the Archbishop's Representative to the Holy See and Director of the Centre.

Rev Richardson is Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia, and was previously Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide.

Dr Williams congratulated David Richardson on his appointment: "His role at this important time builds on four decades of dialogue between Anglicans and Roman Catholics.

"It will be exercised in the context of the 'many area of witness and service' which call for 'closer co-operation between us', as Pope Benedict and I affirmed in our Common Declaration last year."

Rev Richardson succeeds the Rt Rev John Flack, former Suffragan Bishop of Huntingdon, as the Archbishop of Canterbury's personal representative in the Holy See. Bishop Flack retires in February and Rev Richardson will take up his appointment after Easter.

He expressed his delight at his new appointment: "I am [...] very pleased that this means the Anglican Church of Australia is able to be represented at this key level of the vitally important area of ecumenism."

He praised Archbishop Williams and Pope Benedict as "two of the great spiritual and intellectual visionaries of our time - men of profound intelligence, learning and holiness".

"I am looking forward very much to doing whatever I can in this position to work with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and Lambeth Palace in the cause of the gospel and our shared ecumenical endeavour."

Rev Richardson will, through the Anglican Centre, work to promote mutual understanding at every level, particularly in areas where the Catholic and Anglican Churches disagree, and to strengthening the bonds of affection and trust between the two communions.