Ex-PM Tony Blair has left the Anglican church to become a Roman Catholic.
Former prime minister Tony Blair has left the Anglican Church to become a Roman Catholic.
His wife and children were already Catholic and there had been speculation he would convert after leaving office.
His wife and children are already Catholic and there had been speculation he would convert after leaving office.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Conner, who led the service on Friday in which Mr Blair became Catholic, said he was "very glad" to welcome him.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Conner, who led the service to welcome Mr Blair, said he was "very glad" to do so.
Last year, Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he had prayed to God when deciding whether or not to send UK troops into Iraq.
Last year, Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, said he had prayed to God when deciding whether or not to send UK troops into Iraq.
And one of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican in June where he met Pope Benedict XVI.
And one of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican in June where he met Pope Benedict XVI.
'Regular worshipper'
'Regular worshipper'
Mr Blair has been receiving doctrinal and spiritual preparation from Monsignor Mark O'Toole, the private secretary of Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, who is the head of Catholics in England and Wales.
Mr Blair was received into full communion with the Catholic Church during Mass at Archbishop's House, Westminster, on Friday.
If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against church teaching on more than one occasion Ann Widdicombe
If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against church teaching on more than one occasion Ann Widdicombe
He was received into full communion with the Catholic Church during Mass at Archbishop's House, Westminster.
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, who is the head of Catholics in England and Wales, said: "I am very glad to welcome Tony Blair into the Catholic Church.
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said: "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 programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion.
"For a long time he has been a regular worshipper at Mass with his family and in recent months he has been following a programme of formation to prepare for his reception into full communion.
"My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."
"My prayers are with him, his wife and family at this joyful moment in their journey of faith together."
Northern Ireland
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, leader of the Anglican church, wished the former prime minister well in his spiritual journey.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, leader of the Anglican church, wished the former prime minister well in his spiritual journey.
He said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage."
He said: "Tony Blair has my prayers and good wishes as he takes this step in his Christian pilgrimage."
Mr Blair's official spokesman confirmed the former prime minister had converted on Friday night.
Northern Ireland
Downing Street confirmed the prime minister had converted, but said it was a private matter and it would not comment further.
In the end, there is a judgement that, I think if you have faith about these things, you realise that judgement is made by other people... and if you believe in God, it's made by God as well Tony Blair
In the end, there is a judgement that, I think if you have faith about these things, you realise that judgement is made by other people... and if you believe in God, it's made by God as well Tony Blair
Downing Street said it was a family matter and would not comment further.
But the former Conservative government minister, Ann Widdicombe, who became a Catholic in 1993, told the BBC Mr Blair's move raised some questions.
Catherine Pepinster, editor of Catholic magazine, The Tablet, said Mr Blair's conversion was "not a surprise" but was a "momentous step" for him.
"If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against Church teaching on more than one occasion. On things, for example, like abortion," she said.
She said: "It would have been rather different if he had become a Catholic when he was still prime minister.
"My question would be, 'has he changed his mind on that?'"
"I understand that one of the issues he was concerned with, because he was so closely involved in negotiations over peace in Northern Ireland, that perhaps some people there might have been uncomfortable with the prime minister converting to Catholicism at such a time.
"This situation is different. Although he remains a public figure now, and clearly has a role to play in the Middle East, it isn't perhaps quite the same."
The former Conservative government minister, Ann Widdicombe, who became a Catholic in 1993, told the BBC that Mr Blair would have made specific commitments at the reception into the Catholic faith.
"If you look at Tony Blair's voting record in the House of Commons, he's gone against church teaching on more than one occasion. On things, for example, like abortion.
"My question would be 'Has he changed his mind on that?'"
'Nutter' fear
But Mr Blair's biographer, Anthony Seldon, said the former prime minister's faith had always been a major influence on his politics.
But Mr Blair's biographer, Anthony Seldon, said the former prime minister's faith had always been a major influence on his politics.
Mr Seldon said: "He's a profoundly religious figure. Religion brought him into politics in the first place, not reading Labour Party history.
Mr Seldon said: "He's a profoundly religious figure. Religion brought him into politics in the first place, not reading Labour Party history.
"Catholicism has been the religion of his wife - Cherie Blair has been incredibly important to him throughout his political life, encouraging him to go into politics and adopting many of his positions, so I think it was the obvious part of the Christian faith for him to come into."
"Catholicism has been the religion of his wife - Cherie Blair has been incredibly important to him throughout his political life, encouraging him to go into politics and adopting many of his positions, so I think it was the obvious part of the Christian faith for him to come into."
Northern Ireland
There has never been a Roman Catholic prime minister of Britain, although there is no constitutional barrier to such a move.
However, it had in the past been suggested that Mr Blair would wait until after leaving office, to avoid possible clashes such as over his role in appointing Church of England bishops.
Catherine Pepinster, editor of Catholic magazine The Tablet, said the news was not quite the same as if Mr Blair had changed Churches while still prime minister.
"I understand that one of the issues he was concerned with, because he was so closely involved in negotiations over peace in Northern Ireland, that perhaps some people there might have been uncomfortable with the prime minister converting to Catholicism at such a time.
"This situation is different. Although he remains a public figure now, and clearly has a role to play in the Middle East, it isn't perhaps quite the same."
'Nutter' fear
Mr Blair's ex-spokesman, Alastair Campbell, once famously told reporters "We don't do God," but has since said that his former boss "does do God in quite a big way".
Mr Blair's ex-spokesman, Alastair Campbell, once famously told reporters "We don't do God," but has since said that his former boss "does do God in quite a big way".
Mr Blair has always maintained that his Christian faith was important to him and last year told ITV1 chat show host Michael Parkinson he had prayed while deciding whether to send troops into Iraq.
Mr Blair last year told ITV1 chat show host Michael Parkinson he had prayed while deciding whether to send troops into Iraq.
"In the end, there is a judgement that, I think if you have faith about these things, you realise that judgement is made by other people... and if you believe in God, it's made by God as well," he said.
"In the end, there is a judgement that, I think if you have faith about these things, you realise that judgement is made by other people... and if you believe in God, it's made by God as well," he said.
And earlier this year, the former prime minister told the BBC that he had avoided talking about his religious views while in office for fear of being labelled "a nutter".
And earlier this year, he told the BBC that he had avoided talking about his religious views while in office for fear of being labelled "a nutter".
The news of his conversion comes as a document was revealed showing that Mr Blair had raised "concern" over ongoing business negotiations in a letter about an investigation into a Saudi arms deal.
The news of his conversion comes as a document showed Mr Blair had raised "concern" over ongoing business negotiations in a letter about an investigation into a Saudi arms deal.
Days later the probe was dropped and Mr Blair said the decision to stop the probe into the BAE deal was taken because of national security and was not linked to commercial interests.
Days later the probe was dropped, and Mr Blair said the decision to stop it was taken because of national security, and was not linked to commercial interests.
What do you think of Tony Blair's decision? Do you have a personal experience of converting? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
What do you think of Tony Blair's decision? Do you have a personal experience of converting? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
