IARCCUM: New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Walking Together from Canterbury to Rome
IARCCUM ~ 30 September to 7 October 2016 ~ Canterbury & Rome
ARCIC III co-chairs, Archbishops David Moxon and Bernard Longley, chat with Pope Francis during a private audience with the dialogue members
ARCIC III co-chairs, Archbishops David Moxon and Bernard Longley, chat with Pope Francis during a private audience with the dialogue members. Photo: ANSA. (30 Apr. 2015)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis stand together in front of the congregation at the Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis stand together in front of the congregation at the Vespers at 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 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)
Archbishop Justin Welby speaking at the symposium at the Gregorian University
Archbishop Justin Welby speaking at the symposium at the Gregorian University. (5 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)
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)
The original crozier of St. Gregory the Great. A replica was given to Archbishop Justin Welby at Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio
The original crozier of St. Gregory the Great. A replica was given to Archbishop Justin Welby at Vespers in San Gregorio al Celio. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby stop to pray at the throne of St. Gregory during the recessional after Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby stop to pray at the throne of St. Gregory during the recessional after Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: Rev. Amanda Currie. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby share a word and embrace during the Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby share a word and embrace during the Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: L’Osservatore Romano. (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)
Pope Francis greeting Bishop John Bauerschmidt during the ecumenical vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis greeting Bishop John Bauerschmidt during the ecumenical vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. (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)
The icon of St. Gregory the Great and St. Augustine of Canterbury. This icon was placed beside the altar during the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
The icon of St. Gregory the Great and St. Augustine of Canterbury. This icon was placed beside the altar during the Ecumenical Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: Fr. Matthew Olver. (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)
New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Walking Together from Canterbury to Rome
New Steps on an Ancient Pilgrimage: Walking Together from Canterbury to Rome. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis wears the Cross of Nails given to him by Archbishop Justin Welby as he gives a blessing during a service of Vespers at the Church of San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis wears the Cross of Nails given to him by Archbishop Justin Welby as he gives a blessing during a service of Vespers at the Church of San Gregorio al Celio. Photo: Vatican Television. (5 Oct. 2016)
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby share a word and embrace during the Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby share a word and embrace during the Vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. (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 Justin Welby and Bishop Brian Farrell after morning Mass at St. Peter's Basilica
Archbishop Justin Welby and Bishop Brian Farrell after morning Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. (6 Oct. 2016)
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met with IARCCUM bishops and the Anglican Primates 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 bishops and the Anglican Primates at the offices of the PCPCU on October 6, 2016 immediately after his visit with Pope Francis. (6 Oct. 2016)
The Roman Catholic bishops of IARCCUM in green and the Anglican bishops of IARCCUM in red in the background. Each morning of the IARCCUM pilgrimage, the bishops celebrated the Eucahrist together, alternating between Anglican and Roman Catholic rites
The Roman Catholic bishops of IARCCUM in green and the Anglican bishops of IARCCUM in red in the background. Each morning of the IARCCUM pilgrimage, the bishops celebrated the Eucahrist together, alternating between Anglican and Roman Catholic rites. (6 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)
Archbishop Justin Welby preaches at Ecumenical Vespers at the Oratory of San Francesco Saverio 'del Caravita'
Archbishop Justin Welby preaches at Ecumenical Vespers at the Oratory of San Francesco Saverio ‘del Caravita’. Photo: ACR. (6 Oct. 2016)

In October of 2016, IARCCUM gathered 19 pairs of Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops in Canterbury and Rome for an 8-day pilgrimage. This gathering was an opportunity to study and pray together at the tombs of Saints Peter, Paul, Augustine of Canterbury, and Thomas à Becket. The 2016 Pilgrimage provided an opportunity for the bishops to discuss the ecumenical context in their own countries and to learn from the experience of each other. The bishop-pairs were commissioned by Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby at vespers at San Gregorio al Celio. On the site where St Gregory the Great commissioned St Augustine to evangelise the English, these bishops were commissioned to promote the growth in communion between these two churches and the reception of the agreements reached in the theological dialogues.

Selected documents for this event: