The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has written to the Pope to ask if Jimmy Savile's papal knighthood can be posthumously removed, the Church has confirmed.
The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, called for the removal of the late TV presenter's name from papal honours lists to recognise the "deep distress" of abuse victims.
Police confirmed Savile could have sexually abused some 300 people.
Savile was granted the honour in 1990.
Meanwhile, a statement released by Savile's nephew, Roger Foster, described the family's "despair and sadness" over the revelations, adding "our feelings are in turmoil as we await the next turn of events".
Savile was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II for his charity work.
There is no established process to remove a Papal knighthood posthumously as the honour dies with the recipient.
A spokesman confirmed Archbishop Nichols was seeking to get the effects of the honour "nullified" in recognition of "the deep distress" of those who had suffered abuse.
He added that this was also in recognition of "the disquiet" among senior Church officials that Savile's name remains on many papal lists.
- BBC
