Apostolic Nuncio Liverpool: Five-Day Pastoral Visit Ends 2026

Key Points

• The pastoral visit of five days was carried out to the Archdiocese of Liverpool by Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, the Apostolic Nuncio of Great Britain, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, from 9th to 13th September 2026.
• The pastoral visit entailed meetings with clergy, religious, Catholic educators, hundreds of children and parishes in the archdiocese.
• The Nuncio celebrated Mass at the St Oswald’s Church, Old Swan in celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy in the Parish.
• He participated in the “A Concert for the Nuncio” event organized by St Francis de Sales Church and ended up with choral evening prayer at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in celebration of 175 years of the Chapter of Canons.
• In the Liverpool Cathedral, the Nuncio joined civic, ecumenical and interfaith leaders who presented him with the Manifesto for Hope.
• Previously, during the pastoral visit, on 11 September, the Nuncio held a meeting with the survivors of trafficking and modern slavery provided by the Medaille Trust at a safe house provided by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
• The Archbishop of Liverpool, John Sherrington thanked the Nuncio for joining the archdiocese in their activities.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 23, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV’s personal representative to Great Britain, Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, has concluded a five-day pastoral visit to the Archdiocese of Liverpool, marking his first formal pastoral visit to the archdiocese since May 2025. The Apostolic Nuncio met clergy, religious, Catholic educators, hundreds of schoolchildren and parish communities, and joined civic, ecumenical and interfaith leaders for an encounter at Liverpool Cathedral.

What happened during the Apostolic Nuncio’s Liverpool visit?

The tour, running from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 September, took Archbishop Buendía across churches, schools and social action projects in the Liverpool City Region. As reported by staff at the Catholic Herald, the Nuncio’s itinerary combined liturgical celebrations, pastoral encounters and civic engagement, culminating in evening prayer at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The visit was described by the Archdiocese of Liverpool as a “significant occasion” displaying and strengthening communion with Pope Leo XIV and the wider Church.

Which liturgical events marked the Nuncio’s tour?

Archbishop Buendía celebrated Mass at St Oswald’s Church, Old Swan, to mark the 175th anniversary of the Sisters of Mercy in the parish. Later, he attended a concert held in his honour at St Francis de Sales Church, described in coverage by The Tablet as “A Concert for the Nuncio”. The visit concluded with choral evening prayer at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, a celebration that also marked 175 years of the Chapter of Canons for the archdiocese.

How did the Nuncio engage with civic and interfaith leaders?

On 11 September, the Nuncio took part in an encounter with civil and religious leaders at Liverpool Cathedral, where he was presented with a copy of the Manifesto for Hope. According to Liverpool Cathedral, the reception was hosted by Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington and brought together faith and civic leaders from across the city region. The Cathedral visit formed a central part of the five-day tour, underscoring the archdiocese’s engagement with wider civic and interfaith partners.

What social action projects did the Apostolic Nuncio visit?

Earlier in the visit, on 11 September, Archbishop Buendía met survivors of trafficking and modern slavery supported by Medaille Trust at a safe house gifted to the charity by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. As reported by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW), the Nuncio heard firsthand accounts of the difficulties facing survivors in the UK to be recognised and supported to rebuild their lives, and of the work and contribution of Catholic volunteers and projects. The CBCEW noted that the Nuncio was visiting as part of a tour of social action projects in the Liverpool Archdiocese.

What statements were made by church leaders about the visit?

Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington said, “I would like to thank Archbishop Buendía for spending time with us here in the Archdiocese of Liverpool. It has been a great pleasure to welcome him and to share with him the life and mission of the archdiocese.” In remarks reported by the Catholic Herald and the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the Nuncio thanked the archdiocese for its welcome and conveyed the greetings and blessing of Pope Leo XIV.

How was the visit covered by different media outlets?

The Catholic Herald published a photo-led report titled “In Pictures: The Apostolic Nuncio’s Visit to Liverpool”, outlining the main events and noting that photos were credited to Mazur/cbcew.co.uk. The Tablet included the visit in its news briefing from Britain and Ireland, quoting Archbishop Sherrington and listing the key liturgical and civic engagements. The CBCEW website highlighted the Nuncio’s meeting with survivors of trafficking and modern slavery, focusing on the social action dimension of the tour. Liverpool Cathedral’s own site reported on the Manifesto for Hope presentation and the gathering of faith and civic leaders. The Archdiocese of Liverpool’s news page summarised the full five-day programme and described the visit as strengthening communion with the Holy See.

Background of the particular development

The Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain serves as the Holy See’s ambassador and Pope Leo XIV’s personal representative to the UK. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía’s 2026 tour of Liverpool was his first formal pastoral visit to the archdiocese since May 2025, according to both the Catholic Herald and the Archdiocese of Liverpool. The visit coincided with two local anniversaries: 175 years of the Sisters of Mercy at St Oswald’s, Old Swan, and 175 years of the Chapter of Canons at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The inclusion of a meeting with survivors of modern slavery, supported by Medaille Trust, reflected the archdiocese’s ongoing social action work and the Nuncio’s engagement with Catholic charitable projects across England and Wales.

Prediction: How this development can affect the Catholic community in Liverpool

This development is likely to reinforce a sense of connection between the local Catholic community in Liverpool and the wider universal Church, given the Nuncio’s role as Pope Leo XIV’s representative. The public nature of the visit, with coverage across Catholic media and diocesan channels, may encourage greater participation in parish life, school activities and social action initiatives that were highlighted during the tour. The emphasis on anniversaries, such as those of the Sisters of Mercy and the Chapter of Canons, could stimulate local reflection on Catholic heritage and inspire new projects marking these milestones. For clergy, educators and lay leaders, the Nuncio’s engagement with both liturgical and civic spheres may provide a model for integrating faith, education and social outreach in future archdiocesan planning.