TWO decades in the Vatican's diplomatic service may be just the skill set required to take charge of an Archdiocese still reeling from the hurt, divisions and suspicions of the Cardinal O'Brien saga.
And beginning his first news conference by holding up a street atlas for Edinburgh, joking it was his "homework", suggests Mgr Leo Cushley has an easy and effective manner, a boon for a church often slated for the tone of public pronouncements.
Currently head of the English-language section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State, Mgr Cushley has been regularly involved in the visits of heads of state to the Pope, as well as accompanying the Pontiff to English-speaking countries.
Born in Airdrie in 1961 to Bill and Eileen Cushley, a baker and secretary, he attended Holy Cross High School in Hamilton, Blairs College in Aberdeen and the Scots College in Rome before being ordained at St John the Baptist's, Uddingston, by Bishop Joe Devine in July 1985.
After six years as a parish priest in the Motherwell Diocese, he was asked to work for the Holy See in 1993 and has been in the Diplomatic Service since 1997.
During this time Mgr Cushley, who speaks Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese, has served in Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, the United Nations in New York, Burundi and Portugal.
The speculation is Mgr Cushley is a direct appointment by the Vatican.
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