Leo Cushley

Leo William Cushley (born 18 June 1961) is a Scottish Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh since 2013.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Motherwell on 7 July 1985 at the Church of St John the Baptist, Uddingston, by Bishop Joseph Devine.

[6] Cushley has served in the nunciatures of Egypt, Burundi, Portugal and the United Nations in New York and South Africa.

[7] In 2012, he took on an additional role in the Vatican when he was appointed to the ceremonial position of "prelate of the anticamera", with duties that include assisting when the pope receives visits from prominent dignitaries such as heads of state.

[3] On 24 July 2013 Cushley was appointed as the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, less than a year after Cardinal O'Brien resigned over sexual misconduct.

[8] On appointment, Cushley stated: Whatever happens though, it is my sincere hope and my intention to do whatever I have to do, always in truth, but also with charity, with a view to the reconciliation and the healing of the Catholics in Edinburgh, who I am sure have been upset and dismayed by these events.

The document's stated aim was to "respond to the mission entrusted to him [Cushley] by Pope Francis: to bring the joy of the Gospel to contemporary society."

It also called upon Cushley to sell his official residence, St Benet's, to provide funds for poor people.

[8] In September 2013 "Cushley...suggested that O’Brien will not be permitted to return to Scotland and is likely to spend his remaining years in exile.