Tony Blair is converting to Catholicism
I have no comment to make about this, but I nevertheless find it interesting:
Tony Blair is to become a Roman Catholic within weeks.
The former prime minister will be received into his new church in a mass at the private chapel of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
He has been guided by Fr John Walsh, a former RAF chaplain who celebrated mass at Chequers, and Fr Mark O’Toole, the cardinal’s secretary.
His path to Rome will come as no surprise because his wife Cherie and four children are Catholics and the family have worshipped together for years.
Mr Blair, in one of his final acts as prime minister, met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican when he told him of wish to leave the Church of England.
The imminent conversion was disclosed by the respected Catholic newspaper The Tablet, which predicted the service would be held this month.
Mr Blair’s spokesman did not deny the story. He said: “This is the same old speculation.”
advertisementBut a friend of Mr Blair said: “It is something he has wanted to do for years but knew it would be easier after he had left office. Tony and Cherie are both thrilled.”
Mr Blair has rarely been seen in a church of the Anglican faith except on official occasions.
