Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby discuss ways of working for unity

17 June 2014 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=5026

Pope Francis met on Monday with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, saying he hoped their meeting would serve tostrengthen further our bonds of friendship and our commitment to the great cause of reconciliation and communion between Christian believers.”

The audience came on the second day of the Anglican leaders visit to Rome which also included a meeting with a meeting with the St Egidio community, Vespers at St Gregorio on the Caelian Hill, a visit to Romes Joel Nafuma Refugee Centre and an encounter with the ecumenical Global Freedom Network for the eradication of human trafficking.

Recalling the shame of the first disciples when Jesus asked them was they were arguing about, Pope Francis said we too feel ashamed when weponder the distance between the Lords call and our meagre response.” The goal of full unity may seem distant, he said, yet it remains the aim which should direct our every step along the way.

Speaking of the official Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and the newer International AnglicanRoman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), the Pope said they are important forums for examiningin a constructive spirit, the older and newer challenges to our ecumenical engagement.” Pope Francis also thanked the Anglican Archbishop for his leadership in the fight against human trafficking and modernday slavery which he calledintolerable crimes against human dignity.”

Just before the audience I talked to Archbishop Welby about this work and about the goals of this, his second visit to the Vatican: