The former Bishop of Arundel and Brighton has been made a cardinal by the Pope.

The Most Rev Cormac Murphy O'Connor became Archbishop of Westminster - the head of English Roman Catholics - in 1999 after many years in Sussex.

The Pope has created 37 new cardinals, who act as his advisers. They will be installed at a ceremony on February 21.

Archbishop Murphy O'Connor said his appointment was "a great honour" for the English and Welsh Catholic church.

He said: "Being a cardinal gives you a slightly wider responsibility because it makes you part of a college that helps the Pope and elects the new Pope when the time comes."

All previous Archbishops of Westminster have been created cardinals.

The 68-year-old learnt of the news before giving a sermon at a church in Stepney, east London.

The spiritual leader of 4.2 million people has hit the headlines several times since he succeeded Cardinal Basil Hume in June 1999.

Earlier this month he caused controversy when he urged the Government to put the promotion of marriage at the heart of its policies.

Last year he rejected calls to resign after it emerged he had allowed a paedophile priest to return to work as a chaplain.