The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham is rumoured to be the most likely successor to Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster, according to sources in London and Rome.

|PIC1|The Most Rev Vincent Nichols reportedly impressed Catholic leaders in Rome with a sermon he gave in Oxford last week on traditionalism in the Church.

The Archbishop is conservatively orientated with regards to Scripture and was influential in stopping a satirical cartoon series about the Vatican from appearing on the BBC.

There is speculation that the Archbishop could even replace Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor by this time next year.

According to The Catholic Herald, he is the only bishop in England and Wales to have enthusiastically taken up the Pope's recent Apostolic Letter on celebrating the Tridentine rite, or extraordinary Mass.

"On the whole, the bishops of England and Wales have failed to respond to the Pope's deeply inspiring Apostolic Letter, which liberated the ancient liturgy and offered it as a resource for the whole Church," said Damian Thompson, editor-in-chief of The Catholic Herald, according to The Times newspaper.

"The only bishop who appears to understand the Pope's programme of liturgical reform and seems prepared to respond to it is the Archbishop of Birmingham (Archbishop Nichols)."

Peter Jennings, spokesman for Archbishop Nichols said of the speculation in the newspaper's report: "It is the Holy See and not journalists or bookmakers who appoint archbishops. Archbishop Nichols does not discuss the matter of the appointment of a new Archbishop of Westminster with me, nor would I expect him to do so."

The rumours come just months after it was revealed that Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, had offered his resignation to the Pope.

At that time the Archbishop of Westminster explained that his offer of resignation was in accordance with Canon Law, although Pope Benedict asked him to continue in his position.

Canon Law requires all Catholic bishops to offer their resignation to the Vatican upon turning 75. However, it has become common practice for the submission to be declined by the Pope, until he appoints a suitable replacement.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor turned 75 in August.