Blair drops Anglican Church to become a Catholic

Big News Network

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has become a Roman Catholic.

He has shed his ties with the Anglican Church just five months after leaving office in June.

Blair's wife Cherie, and his four children are already Catholics.

Blair was welcomed into the Catholic Church on Friday night by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor during Mass in the chapel at the Archbishop's House in Westminster.

'I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church. For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family, and in recent months he has been following a program of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion,' said the cardinal.

'My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together,' he added.

Blair last year said he had prayed to God before making the decision to send British troops into Iraq.

One of his last official acts as prime minister was to visit the Vatican in June when he met with Pope Benedict XVI.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, the head of the Anglican church, wished the former prime minister well in his spiritual journey.

'Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage,' he said.

No. 10 Downing Street confirmed the conversion had taken place but insisted it was a private matter, and there would be no official copmment.

There has never been a Roman Catholic prime minister of Britain.