The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Governors of the Anglican Centre in Rome are pleased to announce the appointment of the Rt Revd John Flack, Bishop of Huntingdon, as Director of the Centre and the Archbishop's Representative to the Holy See. Bishop Flack will succeed the Rt Revd Richard Garrard who will retire at the end of April 2003.

Bishop Flack has had a varied ministry, having been a parish priest in the dioceses of Ripon, Peterborough and Wakefield, before moving on to become Archdeacon of Pontefract. He was consecrated Bishop of Huntingdon in 1997. He has had a lifelong interest in ecumenism and is the Church of England bishop relating to the Focolare Movement in Italy. Bishop Flack speaks fluent Italian and said on his appointment, "I am very excited by the new appointment. It seemed to be right from the very start. I love travel and languages and will greatly enjoy living in Italy."

The Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed the appointment.

"This appointment in Rome is a crucial link between our two churches and I am sure that Bishop Flack's pastoral and personal gifts prepare him perfectly for this key role in Rome."

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Stephen Platten, Chairman of the Governors of the Centre, said, "Bishop Flack's reputation in the Diocese of Ely has been outstanding and his linguistic and administrative experience will be of enormous importance in his new work. We are delighted that he is to be the new Director."

Bishop Flack is married with two children. His wife, Julia, is a senior probation officer based in Peterborough.