Pope having recruitment problems

The Pope (pictured) appears to be having difficulties filling the plum post of Archbishop of Westminster, a job currently held by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. It was reported yesterday that the position, which automatically makes the holder the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, had been offered to Dom Hugh Gilbert, the Abbot of Pluscarden Benedictine Abbey in Scotland, and that he had declined the invitation.

Murphy-O'Connor, who has held the post since 2000 and at the grand old age of 76 is due to retire this year, is said to be "furious" about the monk's reluctance to take over, which appears to be down to fears that if he leaves Pluscarden Abbey the monastic community might be broken up.

Catholic sources believe this could now lead to an extraordinary intervention by the Pope Benedict XV1, who may be forced into ordering Dom Hugh to accept the promotion.

"It would be quite a rare development, but not unheard of," a source tells the Independent. "The Pope certainly won't want to resort to a second choice. Besides, Dom Hugh is a modest fellow who puts the needs of his community before his own. It's for exactly those reasons that those in Rome might feel he is the right man for the job." ·