I have always acted in what I believed was the best interests of the Archdiocese and all its people

Archbishop John Ward

Archbishop Ward announced his intention to ask the Pope to bring in a second archbishop in an official letter to all church members.

The letter was read out to congregations in masses across south Wales.

The Archbishop read his message personally at St Aloysius church on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil on Sunday morning.

A large congregation heard him describe the additional Archbishop as a man who would succeed him when the time was right.

He said he had not taken the decision lightly and had been considering it for some time.

He referred to his own age as nearly 72 and spoke of health problems following a stroke.

I take responsibility for what has happened...I deeply regret what has happened.

Archbishop John Ward

He also called for sympathy and help for the priests of the diocese.

"Our priests have been deeply hurt, ridiculed and treated with suspicion because of recent events," the Archbishop explained.

He said he felt the greatest sense of betrayal, and mentioned the two priests from the archdiocese John Lloyd and Joseph Jordan who have been jailed for abusing children by name.

"These difficulties have taught us the need to examine existing ways of doing things ," he said.

In an interview for the BBC Wales programme All Things Considered , Archbishop Ward expressed his regret over all that had happened.

"I take responsibility for what has happened...I deeply regret what has happened. The pain its caused. The pain its caused the whole Archdiocese," he told the programme.

'Something worthwhile'

Nicholas Coote, Assistant General Secretary of the Bishops of England and Wales, said Archbishop Ward may have decide on the route because of his own past experience.

"I think it is important the Archbishop Ward has chosen to ask for a co-adjutor because he has had experience himself of being a co-adjutor to another bishop in another Welsh diocese, so perhaps he thinks there is something worthwhile in doing that," he said.

"It does mean that the dfficult gap between the resignation and appointment of a bishop is avoided"

The second Archbishop or " Co-adjutor" is a very rare appointment. The last was made in 1983.

Archbishops are required to retire when they reach the age of 75.