Fraternal visits between Popes and Archbishops of Canterbury
1966-
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI embrace after signing Common Declaration (visible in the Archbishop's left hand)
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI embrace after signing Common Declaration (visible in the Archbishop's left hand) ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Dr Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, seated in the Sistine Chapel during the 1966 visit of Ramsey to Rome
Pope Paul VI and Dr Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, seated in the Sistine Chapel during the 1966 visit of Ramsey to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI (left) and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury (centre) signed a common declaration during the Archbishop's visit to Rome
Pope Paul VI (left) and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury (centre) signed a common declaration during the Archbishop's visit to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
During the visit of Michael Ramsey to Pope Paul VI, the pope removed his own episcopal ring and presented it to the Archbishop. On all subsequent visits to Rome, Archbishops of Canterbury have worn this ring
During the visit of Michael Ramsey to Pope Paul VI, the pope removed his own episcopal ring and presented it to the Archbishop. On all subsequent visits to Rome, Archbishops of Canterbury have worn this ring ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI view an icon during the first official visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI view an icon during the first official visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey in the Sistine Chapel
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey in the Sistine Chapel ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI holding copies of their Common Declaration
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI holding copies of their Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey examining their Common Declaration
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey examining their Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey embracing during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey embracing during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey seated
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey seated ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI met in Rome
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI signing common declaration
Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI signing common declaration ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI signing a Common Declaration
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI signing a Common Declaration ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Benedict XVI and the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, hold a private meeting in the Pope's study at the Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI and the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, hold a private meeting in the Pope's study at the Vatican. Photo credit: ACNS ~ May 2008
Visit of Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan Williams to Pope Benedict XVI
Visit of Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan Williams to Pope Benedict XVI. Photo credit: L'Osservatore Romano ~ 21 Nov. 2009
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Pope Benedict XVI, and Jane Williams
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Pope Benedict XVI, and Jane Williams ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, with Pope Benedict XVI walking up stairs as they arrive for vespers at the Basilica of St. Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome
Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, with Pope Benedict XVI walking up stairs as they arrive for vespers at the Basilica of St. Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome ~ 10 Mar. 2012
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis greeting
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis greeting ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Welby reading his address to Pope Francis
Archbishop Welby reading his address to Pope Francis ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walking within the Vatican during the Archbishop's visit
Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walking within the Vatican during the Archbishop's visit ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby laughing
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby laughing ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis welcomes Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at the Vatican. Both spoke of the 'bonds of friendship and love' between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion
Pope Francis welcomes Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at the Vatican. Both spoke of the 'bonds of friendship and love' between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Photo credit: Lambeth Palace ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet during visit to Rome
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet during visit to Rome ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Welby sitting with Pope Francis
Archbishop Welby sitting with Pope Francis ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby greets Pope Francis during visit to Rome
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby greets Pope Francis during visit to Rome ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis share a laugh during their first visit
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis share a laugh during their first visit ~ 14 June 2013

The first visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to a reigning pope since the Reformation occurred in 1960 when Geoffrey Fisher visited John XXIII. Beginning in 1966, a series of official fraternal visits has occurred, in most cases by the Archbishop visiting the Pope, although in 1982 and 2010 the Pope visited Britain. A key feature of some of these visits has been the “Common Declarations” issued by the two leaders. During other visits there have been communiqués, public addresses, and photos to commemorate the occasion.