Communiqué: New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Together from Canterbury to Rome
Procession at the Opening Vespers at the beginning of the IARCCUM gathering at Canterbury Cathedral
Procession at the Opening Vespers at the beginning of the IARCCUM gathering at Canterbury Cathedral. Photo: ACNS. (30 Sept. 2016)
Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops process into Canterbury Cathedral for Evensong as they began their IARCCUM meeting
Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops process into Canterbury Cathedral for Evensong as they began their IARCCUM meeting. Photo: ACNS. (30 Sept. 2016)
Group photo of the participants in the IARCCUM gathering "New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage"
Group photo of the participants in the IARCCUM gathering "New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage". Photo: Neil Vigers/ACO. (2 Oct. 2016)
The IARCCUM bishops during a discussion at the Centro Internazionale di Animazione Missionaria in Rome
The IARCCUM bishops during a discussion at the Centro Internazionale di Animazione Missionaria in Rome. (4 Oct. 2016)
Some of the IARCCUM bishops seated at the papal vespers at San Gregorio al Cielo
Some of the IARCCUM bishops seated at the papal vespers at San Gregorio al Cielo. (5 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop Justin Welby commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio
Archbishop Justin Welby commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis greets Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis greets Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio. (5 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop Justin Welby commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio
Archbishop Justin Welby commissions Archbishop Donald Bolen, co-chair of IARCCUM, at the Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby entering San Gregorio al Celio for Vespers with the IARCCUM bishops
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby entering San Gregorio al Celio for Vespers with the IARCCUM bishops. (5 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop Justin Welby greeting Bishop John Bauerschmidt during the ecumenical vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Archbishop Justin Welby greeting Bishop John Bauerschmidt during the ecumenical vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: L'Osservatore Romano. (5 Oct. 2016)
Final Benediction at the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Final Benediction at the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS. (5 Oct. 2016)
Commissioning of the IARCCUM bishops by Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis
Commissioning of the IARCCUM bishops by Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis. Photo: Vatican Television. (5 Oct. 2016)
A priest holds the replica of the Crozier of St Gregory the Great - the sixth Century Pope who sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxons - as Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet pairs of bishops being sent out for joint mission. The actual crozier is on a pedestal in the top left hand corner of the picture
A priest holds the replica of the Crozier of St Gregory the Great - the sixth Century Pope who sent Augustine to evangelise the Anglo-Saxons - as Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet pairs of bishops being sent out for joint mission. The actual crozier is on a pedestal in the top left hand corner of the picture. Photo: Vatican Television. (5 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop Justin Welby gave Pope Francis a cross of nails from Coventry Cathedral
Archbishop Justin Welby gave Pope Francis a cross of nails from Coventry Cathedral. Photo: ACNS. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis gave Archbishop Justin Welby a replica of the Crozier of St. Gregory the Great
Pope Francis gave Archbishop Justin Welby a replica of the Crozier of St. Gregory the Great. (5 Oct. 2016)
Final Benediction at the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Final Benediction at the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: Reuters. (5 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met with IARCCUM at the offices of the PCPCU on October 6, 2016 immediately after his visit with Pope Francis
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met with IARCCUM at the offices of the PCPCU on October 6, 2016 immediately after his visit with Pope Francis. Photo: ACO. (6 Oct. 2016)

Author/editor(s): IARCCUM
Creation: 20 Oct. 2016 (The date of original creation or publication, if known)
Event: IARCCUM: New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Walking Together from Canterbury to Rome, Canterbury & Rome, 30 September to 7 October 2016

Persistent link: https://iarccum.org/doc/1249 (Please use this permanent URL in your publications and bookmarks to link to this document. The files linked below may be modified, but this record will remain at this location.)

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Communiqué from the Summit Meeting of IARCCUM

“New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Together from Canterbury to Rome”
30 September – 7 October 2016

IARCCUM 2016 has been an historic summit, rich in symbolism and significance for the Anglican Communion and Catholic Church. It brought together 36 bishops from around the world for a week in Canterbury and Rome to celebrate and reflect upon the deepening relationship between the two traditions over the past 50 years, and to find practical ways by which we can give witness to our unity in ecumenical mission to the world.

The highlight was the mandating of the bishops by Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at a service they jointly led at the church of San Gregorio al Celio. The IARCCUM bishops were commissioned in pairs, an Anglican and Catholic representing countries and regions where the two communions exist in significant number, and were sent out “as our Lord sent out his disciples in pairs” to preach the gospel “in word and deed” and to serve “those who are most vulnerable and marginalized.” The service also saw the Pope and Archbishop exchange gifts as a sign of friendship – echoing the moment in 1966 when Pope Paul VI presented his papal ring to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey – a moment that ushered in a new era of dialogue. On this occasion Pope Francis presented Archbishop Justin with a carved replica of the head of the crozier of St Gregory which had been lent to Canterbury in January of this year. In return Archbishop Justin took off his own pectoral cross, a “cross of nails” from Coventry Cathedral, which Pope Francis immediately kissed and put on over his vestments.

The time of pilgrimage in Rome was marked by visits to St Peter’s and St Paul’s basilicas to pray at the tombs of the apostles and celebrate the Eucharist (Catholic and Anglican respectively) at each. In St Peter’s basilica, after the IARCCUM Mass, the bishops joined over a hundred worshippers at the altar of the tomb for Morning Prayer led by Archbishop Justin.

As part of their reflections on the theological progress already made and the pastoral opportunities that lie ahead, the bishops participated in a symposium at the Pontifical Gregorian University on current relations between the churches and the possibilities of future co-operation and dialogue. During the symposium Cardinal Koch presented the final report of the second phase of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC). This volume entitled Looking towards a Church Fully Reconciled details over 20 years of theological work aimed at reconciling the two traditions. The report was presented to Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin by ARCIC’s co-chairs at an audience the following day.

The time in Canterbury was also a rich mixture of serious reflection with prayer and pilgrimage. The Suffragan Bishop in Europe, David Hamid, gave the homily at a Catholic Vigil Mass in the undercroft of the Cathedral celebrated by Cardinal John Dew. The following day, Archbishop-elect of Regina, Donald Bolen, preached the sermon at the Sung Eucharist in the Cathedral.

Bishop Hamid – who co-chairs IARCCUM with Archbishop Bolen – said the summit had been an historic moment in our official dialogue, and deeply valuable.

“This has been an immensely rich occasion, full of significance for our two traditions. It has been a source of deep joy to all the bishops gathered from all over the world, who have shared their experiences, their challenges and their wisdom. It was a profound time of collegiality and communion, and they are inspired now to go out into the world and work together for unity and common mission.”

Archbishop Bolen spoke enthusiastically about the meeting and said he was deeply encouraged about the future.

“The bishops engaged in everything in a way that was beautiful to see. Strong friendships have formed. In our discussions we did not shy away from the difficulties we sometimes face. But the possibilities for our two traditions working together in a needy world are abundant and promising.”

One of the bishops, Archbishop Paul Nabil El Sayah from Beirut said the summit had been a joyful occasion that would yield practical results.

“The atmosphere has been very positive,” he said. “You can feel there is deep, sincere fellowship and a willingness to bring new things forward. I am completely sold on practical ecumenism. I see lots of potential. This is not about looking inwards but about coming to the outside world together. The more we come together, the more our message has credibility.”

Bishop Alwin Samuel, from Sialkot in Pakistan, has been working alongside Archbishop Sebastian Shaw from Lahore during the summit. Bishop Alwin said he was looking forward to collaborating more with the Catholics at home.

“We have been looking at how we can take concrete steps towards unity. One example is where we have existing projects of our own. We looked at how we could begin to work together on them. For example, in areas such as health, especially women’s health, where one church might provide the resources and the other would deliver them.”