The appointment of Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as Archbishop of Westminster has to be one of the most popular made by the Vatican in recent times.
It is also something of a surprise, in that Dr Murphy-O'Connor would be perceived by many as being on the "liberal" (a word he and many like-minded churchmen dislike) side of a church dominated by assertive conservatives in Rome.
Members of the Anglican communion are delighted and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, has described the news as "an inspired choice".
Dr Murphy-O'Connor is believed to be a friend of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey.
Indeed, there is already speculation as to whether a recent visit to Rome by Dr Carey for multi-denominational millennium services with the Pope, played any part in Dr Murphy-O'Connor's appointment.
Anglicans like him not least because he is an ecumenist in a church where, whatever the occasional ritual symbolism, movement towards unity has all but stagnated at leadership level.
Dr Murphy-O'Connor has a "man-of-the-people" warmth and an affable personality devoid of the "holy" distance some felt with Cardinal Basil Hume - other than in a one-to-one context.
He has also been the Roman Catholic co-chairman of ARCIC II (the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission) for over 17 years, where his consensus style of chairmanship has been popular on all sides.
As one observer said, his approach was not that of a theologian; rather he would listen and wait until he understood an issue, then he would seek out a formula which would unite.
He was one of those charged by his predecessor, Cardinal Hume, with handling the delicate issue of Anglican priests, some of them married, who wished to join the Catholic Church after the Church of England agreed to allow the ordination of women. That he has remained so popular with Anglicans is an indication of the sensitivity with which he handled the task.
Where England's Catholics are concerned the attitude could hardly be better summarised than a description written in the Tablet, the leading Catholic weekly, some time ago. It said he was "everyone's favourite bishop, human, genial, collaborative, imposing".
Their reaction to his appointment was summarised by one observer as "very, very positive. Everybody likes him. There has not been one single negative comment about it." People like his instinct to consult and the "slightly deprecating" style which underlines a thoroughly honest approach.
Even those who would have preferred Father Timothy Radcliffe, head of the Dominican Order, are happy with the appointment.
Those, mainly liberal Catholics, are somewhat relieved that Bishop Michael Fitzgerald, secretary to the Vatican's Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, was not the appointee.
It was confidently speculated in some quarters that he would succeed Cardinal Hume as he seemed the only English bishop who would fit the present Vatican mould.
At Westminster it is not expected that Dr Murphy-O'Connor will have or seek the same high profile as Cardinal Hume, but it is expected he will be strong in those areas where the cardinal was weak, particularly in administering the diocese.
His Irish connections are deep and valued by him. Though born in Reading, his parents were from Cork where he still has many cousins.
They include nine priests in the broader circle of relatives, among them the noted biblical scholar Father Jerome Murphy-O'Connor OP, who is based in Jerusalem. The new archbishop is a regular visitor to this country.
The reaction to his appointment here has been as positive as it is in Britain, and is probably best summarised by the Catholic primate Dr Sean Brady's statement sending "warm congratulations". Dr Brady said the archbishop-designate was known for his affection towards Ireland and was "much appreciated and admired" for his work with ARCIC.
What has not been mentioned by anyone so far was Dr Murphy-O'Connor's role in offering refuge to the former bishop of Galway, Dr Eamonn Casey, when he returned from South America in 1998.
The Irish Bishops' Conference made it clear they did not want Dr Casey returning to Ireland and Cardinal Hume issued a statement saying he did not feel it would be appropriate for Dr Casey to return to the Archdiocese of Westminster, where he had in fact worked previously in the late 1960s.
Discreetly, he was then found a place in a parish in Dr Murphy-O'Connor's Arundel and Brighton diocese, where he has resided since.
But just as interesting as Dr Murphy-O'Connor's appointment is that of Bishop Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Birmingham.
He has been an auxiliary bishop in Westminster since 1992 and was seen by many as Cardinal Hume's heir apparent. The late cardinal appointed him to many senior positions and representative roles in the archdiocese and this was interpreted as an indication of his wishes as to who should succeed him. It was speculated in England that Dr Nichols was probably "personally disappointed" not to get Westminster.
He is said to be competent, with great international experience, and "very, very shrewd". Observers say this last characteristic may have worked against him on this occasion as it is believed to have generated opposition, even dislike.
However, it was pointed out that Dr Nichols is only 54 while Dr Murphy-O'Connor is 67, with just eight years to go before retirement.
Dr Nichols would then still be young enough to succeed to Westminster, which is why they are saying already in England that he is being groomed to succeed Dr Murphy-O'Connor.