London  - An archbishop known for his conservative views on issues of homosexuality and education was Friday named the new head of Britain's 4.2 million Roman Catholics.

The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, will take over his new role as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster next month.

The 63-year-old will succeed Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor who, at the age of 77, has become the first Archbishop of Westminster since the mid-19th century not to die in office.

Archbishop Nichols, who was chosen personally by Pope Benedict XVI for the post, has in the past attracted criticism for his outspoken views on homosexuality and faith education.

He fought prominently, but unsuccessfully, to prevent gay couples from adopting children and forced the Labour government in 2006 to back down over proposals to require faith schools to accept more pupils from non-faith backgrounds.

Nichols had attracted the Pope's eye because of his "robust taking on of secularized society" in Britain, the BBC's religious affairs correspondent said Friday. dpa