Pope Leo XIV has called for Anglicans and Catholics to work together to overcome their differences, following a historic meeting at the Vatican with the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally.
Historic Encounter at the Vatican
The pontiff welcomed Dame Sarah, the top bishop in the Church of England, to the Vatican on Monday for a private audience. The meeting marked a significant moment in Anglican-Roman Catholic relations, as the two leaders delivered addresses and prayed together.
Dame Sarah made history as the first woman to hold the office of Archbishop of Canterbury in its 1,400-year history. However, the Catholic Church does not ordain women as priests, a point of ongoing divergence between the two denominations. The Church of England first ordained women priests in 1994, and Dame Sarah had previously become the first woman to serve as Bishop of London.
Pope's Call for Unity
During their meeting, Pope Leo referenced the first formal ecumenical statement between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, signed in Rome in 1966 by then-Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI. He acknowledged the complexity of the ecumenical journey, stating: "Certainly this ecumenical journey has been complex. While much progress has been made on some historically divisive issues, new problems have arisen in recent decades, rendering the pathway to full communion more difficult to discern."
Without specifying the new issues, the Pope echoed his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who told the Anglican Communion in 2024 that "it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfil our common vocation to make Christ known." Pope Leo added: "For my part, I add that it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear."
He emphasised that the "suffering world greatly needs the peace of Christ" and that "divisions among Christians weakens our capacity to be effective bearers of that peace."
Archbishop's Response
In her address, Dame Sarah praised Pope Leo for speaking out against injustice and assured him of a "warm welcome" should he visit the United Kingdom. She noted that the King had "valued his recent visit, especially the shared prayer and spirit of fraternity it embodied." In October, King Charles and Pope Leo made history by praying together at a public service, the first such occasion since the Reformation.
Dame Sarah said: "Your Holiness, you have spoken powerfully about the many injustices in our world today, but you have spoken even more powerfully about hope. Your pilgrimage to Africa was full of life and joy. The world needed this message at this time – thank you."
She added that despite "inhuman violence, deep division and rapid societal change," Christians must "keep telling a more hopeful story."
Context of Global Conflict
The meeting comes amid ongoing wars and just weeks after US President Donald Trump criticised the Pope, calling him "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy." The Pope had used his first Easter message to strongly condemn war, urging those with weapons to lay them down. Dame Sarah has previously expressed solidarity with the Pope's calls for peace.
Gifts and Shared Prayer
Among the gifts presented to the Pope was a jar of honey from beehives in Lambeth Palace Garden in London, described as "a simple and hospitable token, rooted in place and daily life." After the audience, the archbishop joined the Pope for a service of prayer in the Chapel of Urban VIII, where they said grace together.
The purpose of Dame Sarah's visit to Rome, according to Lambeth Palace, is to "strengthen Anglican–Roman Catholic relations" and "aims to deepen bonds of communion, affirm a shared witness and encourage ongoing collaboration at both global and local levels." She is accompanied by Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth, leader of Catholics in England and Wales.
