The Synod on Synodality, convened by Pope Francis in 2021, began its final Session this past week. “For a synodal church: communion, participation, mission” has entailed listening to voices from around the Roman Catholic world and beyond. First, listening to the local church (dioceses and ecumenical partners), then listening to continental (or we might say “regional”) bishops’ conferences. The fruits of these two years’ work were brought to the table last year at the First Session for discussion by bishops from around the world, ecumenical participants, theologians and special guests.

This First Session indicated major questions that then were compiled into a text, known by its Latin name ‘Instrumentum Laboris’. We are now listening deeply to one another, discerning what the Spirit says to the church based on themes developed in the ‘Instrumentum’.

The process is unique. It is not a “democratic” process, that is, trying to get a majority on this or that issue, but it is a “conversation in the Spirit.” We are seated at round tables. There are 10–12 participants at each table. Pope Francis himself sits at one such table. We begin in prayer and then everyone shares for no more than three minutes on the theme of that particular day.

This is followed by silent prayer and then a second round of conversation in which each person shares what resonated for them, what they heard from others. After this, there is prayer again and then a general discussion leading to a brief report of the conversation. These reports are gathered, summarized by another group, and then shared back with the plenary for more conversation. By the end of four weeks, we will have discussed the entire ‘Instrumentum Laboris’.

The steering committee of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) met in Washington DC, USA, from 29 September to 2 October 2024. The meeting was kindly hosted by Georgetown University, in association with Virginia Theological Seminary. The steering committee was joined for its meeting by three of the bishops who took part in the IARCCUM summit meeting and pilgrimage of Catholic and Anglican bishops which took place in Rome and Canterbury in January 2024.

During their meeting, the steering committee reflected on the future of IARCCUM, including means of maintaining contact with the pairs of the bishops who took part in the 2024 summit, and the question of replacement of IARCCUM bishops on their retirement from office. The steering committee also spent time reflecting on the origins and specific ecumenical task of IARCCUM, seeking to discern new ways to contribute to the work of deepening communion between Anglicans and Catholics.  The committee also reviewed IARCCUM’s most important publication to date, the 2007 document Growing Together in Unity and Mission, with a view to beginning work on a new document as a resource for bishops of the two churches.

The steering committee of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) met in Washington DC, USA, from 29 September to 2 October 2024. The meeting was kindly hosted by Georgetown University, in association with Virginia Theological Seminary. The steering committee was joined for its meeting by three of the bishops who took part in the IARCCUM summit meeting and pilgrimage of Catholic and Anglican bishops which took place in Rome and Canterbury in January 2024.

During their meeting, the steering committee reflected on the future of IARCCUM, including means of maintaining contact with the pairs of the bishops who took part in the 2024 summit, and the question of replacement of IARCCUM bishops on their retirement from office. The steering committee also spent time reflecting on the origins and specific ecumenical task of IARCCUM, seeking to discern new ways to contribute to the work of deepening communion between Anglicans and Catholics. The committee also reviewed IARCCUM’s most important publication to date, the 2007 document Growing Together in Unity and Mission, with a view to beginning work on a new document as a resource for bishops of the two churches.

In an October 2016 Common Declaration recalling the fiftieth anniversary of the historic visit of Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury to Pope Paul VI in Rome, Pope Francis and His Grace Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, recognized how Anglicans and Catholics “have become partners and companions on our pilgrim journey, facing the same difficulties, and strengthening each other by learning to value the gifts which God has given to the other, and to receive them as our own in humility and gratitude.” Together they advance the work of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), involving Anglican and Catholic bishops giving collaborative witness, based on the unity that Anglicans and Catholics already enjoy. Through IARCCUM, 46 bishops, representing 27 countries, gathered in Rome and Canterbury in January 2024 and pledged to “engage in common witness, to build relationships of friendship in Christ, to walk a synodal path together, and to share wherever possible in the Church’s mission.”

Five IARCCUM participating bishops are meeting at Georgetown University from September 30 through October 2, 2024, and at this public session they will share their experiences as IARCCUM participants.

Mark Santer was born in 1936, son of Canon Eric Santer and Phyllis Barlow. His father was a distinguished incumbent in Bristol diocese and sometime chairman of the Bristol Diocesan Fellowship. Mark was educated at Marlborough, Queens’ College, Cambridge, and Westcott House.

Before ordination, he studied in the University of Utrecht, during which time he attended a sports festival in East Germany which was, in fact, a cover for a meeting of young Christians. There he met Henriette Weststrate, a psychologist from Amsterdam. He was ordained priest in 1964, marrying Henriette in the same year.

He served his title at Cuddesdon, and was also tutor of the college under the principalship of Robert Runcie, who continued to seek his wisdom. Dr Runcie’s significant address to Lambeth 1988 on the nature of unity and on the inclusiveness of the Anglican Communion was drafted in consultation with a small band of trusted collaborators, Mark among them.

In 1967, he became Fellow and Dean of Clare College, Cambridge, and, in 1973, Principal of Westcott House. At his licensing, Professor Charlie Moule spoke of him as “a principal at the height of his powers, outstanding in learning and pastoral ability”.

Some historical background to the specific Irish context is helpful in elucidating the significance of advances in relationships between both Anglicans and Roman Catholics in the country, north and south, over recent decades. Such progress was underlined by the presence of two bishops, one from each tradition respectively, at the recent meeting of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) held in both Rome and Canterbury. Before discussing the particular shape of that gathering, we will offer a brief sketch of some key elements of the Irish Christian experience—one in which recourse to physical force and violence has sadly been a recurring theme—to help readers appreciate better the journey in reconciliation and hope that is underway in our country.

Read the rest of this article in One in Christ 57, no. 1 (2024): 113–122.

Niall Coll is the Catholic bishop of Ossory and Adrian Wilkinson is the Church of Ireland bishop of the United Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory.

Recognizing that the Christian churches continually are called to grapple with new moral issues and that reaching different conclusions can complicate the search for Christian unity, a commission of Catholic and Anglican bishops and theologians has been studying how their traditions make decisions and what they can learn from each other.

Members of the official Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) met May 11–18 in Strasbourg, France, to continue their examination of “how the Church local, regional and universal discerns right ethical teaching,” according to a statement released May 27.

“For the first time in its work, ARCIC III has chosen to include two case studies as part of its reflection — one where Catholics and Anglicans reached broadly the same teaching, and one where they did not. These case studies, on Enslavement and Contraception, illustrate the doctrinal and structural similarities and differences between the two communions and also serve to highlight unresolved questions,” the statement said.

The Anglican–Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC III) held its annual plenary meeting at the Centre Culturel Saint–Thomas in Strasbourg, France from May 11–18, 2024. It continued to work on the second part of its mandate examining how the Church discerns local, regional and universal right ethical teaching.

Drafting the Agreed Statement for this phase of the Commission’s work had continued during the Commission’s 2023 plenary meeting in Cyprus and aims to be finalised by 2025. When published, the Agreed Statement will complement the document published by ARCIC III in 2017, ‘Walking Together on the Way: Learning to be the Church. Local, Regional and Universal’.

In its Communiqué, issued at the end of the meeting, the Commission stated that it has “adopted an approach of receptive ecumenical learning, whereby each dialogue partner seeks to identify elements of church life found in the other tradition which might be gifts for the enhancement of their own traditions. A large part of the Commission’s work in Strasbourg was therefore devoted to reflecting on moral discernment in our two traditions and on what they can learn from each other’s practices.”

Unity within Christian communities and the unity of all the churches will grow only as believers draw closer to Jesus and learn to be honest in examining if they are listening to the Holy Spirit or to their own preferences, Pope Francis told leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

“We are called to pray and to listen to one another, seeking to understand each other‘s concerns and asking ourselves, before enquiring of others, whether we have been docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit or prey to our own personal or group opinions,” Pope Francis said May 2 as he welcomed to the Vatican Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the primates of the Anglican churches.

“Surely, the divine way of seeing things will never be one of division, separation or the interruption of dialogue,” the pope said. “Rather, God‘s way leads us to cling ever more fervently to the Lord Jesus, for only in communion with him will we find full communion with one another.”

Pope Francis read his speech to the group, but also set aside time to respond to the primates‘ questions, Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, told reporters. The questions, she said, allowed the pope to talk about “his own passions in ministry, unity in diversity, harmony, and he said in several ways that ‘war is always, always, always a defeat.'”

Speaking to the Primates of the Anglican Communion, Pope Francis says that even the very earliest Christians had their disagreements.

Senior clergy from the Anglican Communion are in Rome this week for the body’s 2024 Primates Meeting – the first of its kind to be held in the Eternal City.

On Thursday morning, participants, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican.

Long history of cooperation

Pope Francis began his address by thanking Archbishop Welby for his presence, noting that he “began his service as Archbishop of Canterbury around the same time that I began mine as Bishop of Rome.”

“Since then,” the Pope added, “we have had many occasions to meet, to pray together and to testify to our faith in the Lord. Dear brother Justin, thank you for this fraternal cooperation on behalf of the Gospel!”

He stressed in particular the pair’s joint trip to Sudan in 2023, which, he said, was “really beautiful”.

In a historic meeting, Anglican Communion Primates from around the world have attended an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, during the morning of May 2.

In the hour–long meeting, the Pope shared words of encouragement and affirmation in conversation with the primates, responding to questions from those gathered.

In his address, Pope Francis spoke about themes of synodality, church unity and the prioritization of relationships, Christian love and service.

The Pope said: “Only a love that becomes gratuitous service, only the love that Jesus taught and embodies, will bring separated Christians closer to one another. Only that love, which does not appeal to the past in order to remain aloof or to point a finger, only that love which in God‘s name puts our brothers and sisters before the ironclad defence of our own religious structures, only that love will unite us. First our brothers and sisters, the structures later.”

This was a significant moment in a week in which the Anglican Primates’ Meeting has been held in Rome. They have gathered for pilgrimage, prayer, and discussion about joint mission and witness, along with conversation about synodality, structures, and decision–making in the Anglican Communion.

The Archbishop of Canterbury endorses the “Rome Call” effort for ethical development of artificial intelligence, saying “Let us all work to ensure that the dignity of every human being, created by God, not for profit or productivity, is central to all we do.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has joined other illustrious leaders, ethicists, and university professors in signing the “Rome Call” for the ethical development of artificial intelligence. Archbishop Welby, leader of the Anglican Communion, endorsed the initiative on 30 April at a ceremony in Rome at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy for Life, according to a note from the Academy and its RenAIssance Foundation.

Senior archbishops, presiding bishops, and moderators of the churches of the Anglican Communion will meet in Rome for the 2024 Primates’ Meeting (April 29–May 3). Conceived as a pilgrimage, they will pray and study Scripture together, visit holy sites in Rome, and reflect together about the mission and witness of the Church in the world.

In the first gathering of Anglican Primates to be held in Rome, the Primates’ programme will include a meeting with Pope Francis and conversation with Cardinal Grech about the meaning and promise of synodality for the whole Church.

The city of Rome is full of historical and spiritual significance for the whole Christian world. Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury on mission to England in 597. Especially since the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), Rome has been a centre of inter–Christian encounter and ecumenical research.

The Malines Conversation Group gathered on Saturday at the Sofia Centre just outside Helsinki for our annual sessions. The Malines Group brings together Anglican and Roman Catholic theologians working for the visible unity of our two Communions.

On Sunday on a visit to Porvoo we received generous hospitality and warm words from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland Bishop Bo–Göran Åstrand of Borgå (Porvoo) encouraging the members of the Conversations in our work for unity. Thanks to the Porvoo Agreement between the Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland and most of the Nordic/Baltic Lutheran Churches, I was able to concelebrate the Sunday Mass in Porvoo Cathedral with a Lutheran priest. This was not only a sign of our unity in Porvoo but holds out a vision of visible unity with those with whom we are not yet in communion, especiallly the Roman Catholic Church.

Our first session of the Conversations began in the presence of some invited ecumenical leaders of the Finnish Churches. Wonderful to be with some old friends, such as Metropolitan Ambrosius and Bishop Eero Huovinen, and to meet the relatively new RC bishop of Helskinki, Raimo Goyarrola.

This January, I participated in a unique pilgrimage and summit, “Growing Together,” sponsored by the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). The event brought together 50 paired bishops, both Anglican and Roman Catholic, from 27 different countries to offer an ecumenical witness of solidarity between the two worldwide communions and to underscore the progress that has been made in relations between them. The pilgrimage began in Rome, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, in this historic Christian centre, and then moved to the close of Canterbury Cathedral for its conclusion.

IARCCUM practices what is sometimes called the Lund principle: churches are called to act together in all those areas where conviction does not require them to act separately. If there are things that we can do together, we should be doing them. The pilgrimage and summit were intended to offer a common witness of Christians, in the midst of deep divisions in our world and enormous difficulties facing the human family, and to challenge our churches to work more closely together in those areas where we are able to do so.

On January 25, at the annual ecumenical service in Rome that marks the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis spontaneously invited Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to offer remarks after Francis’ own homily. Archbishop Justin’s reflection constituted a second homily, though it was called a “discourse” in the Vatican media. Such an invitation had only been offered to Orthodox bishops in the past, so this marked a significant sign of welcome between two leaders who have become close collaborators in a number of projects. On previous occasions, Archbishop Justin and his predecessors had been invited to offer remarks at a later portion of the liturgy, but never immediately after the homily.

On 7 and 8 March 2024, the drafting group of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) met in London, UK. Convened by the two co–secretaries of the commission, the group held its working sessions at the church of St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, and at Westminster Abbey.

ARCIC–III’s current mandate is to examine how the Church in communion, local and universal, discerns right ethical teaching. It addressed the first ecclesiological part of its mandate in its 2018 agreed statement, Walking Together on the Way: Learning to be Church ‒ Local, Regional, Universal. In this phase of its work, ARCIC–III is now examining how the two communions practice moral discernment in search of right ethical teaching. The first three chapters of the report examine both the shared tradition which Catholics and Anglicans have inherited, and how distinct moral discernment developed in each tradition since the Reformation. During their meeting in London, the drafting group concentrated on refining and analysing two case studies which will form part of the fourth chapter of the report. These case studies examine one example of where Catholics and Anglicans reached the same teaching – Enslavement – and one where they did not – Contraception. Their work will be considered by the full commission when it gathers for its annual plenary meeting in Strasbourg, France, in May 2024.

Visiting holy sites to pray in both Rome and Canterbury was very much part of the process. On January 23 it was moving for us to be part of an Anglican Choral Evensong being held for only the second time ever in the Choir Chapel of St Peter’s Basilica. The meeting coincided in part with the annual Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity which always ends on January 25 when our churches mark the Feast of the Conversation of St Paul.

Appropriately that evening all the bishops attended Catholic vespers at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, where the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury both preached and commissioned the IARCCUM delegates in their pairs for their work. For us and many of those attending the liturgy, it was encouraging to observe both church leaders clearly at ease in each other’s company and both committed to the goal of Christian unity.

I was recently appointed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales to become a member of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM). 25 Catholic bishops and 25 Anglican bishops from across the world gathered in Rome to be commissioned jointly by Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, the conclusion of the Octave of Prayer for the Unity of Christians.

The Catholic and Anglican bishops were paired from each nation, I being united with Bishop Stephen Race of Beverely who was representing the Church of England. We assembled in Rome on Monday January 22 and transferred the conference to Canterbury on Friday January 26, concluding our deliberations on Monday January 29.

The experience was intense, enlightening and fruitful. Each pairing was charged with sharing their national experience of ecumenical dialogue and cooperation. This sharing proved to be a most powerful experience.

The second summit meeting of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) took place in Rome and Canterbury from 22 to 29 January 2024. IARCCUM is an official commission of the Anglican Communion and the Catholic Church, established to deepen the relationship between Anglicans and Catholics and promote shared mission, based on the significant degree of theological agreement that has been reached over sixty years of dialogue. The first IARCCUM summit took place in 2016. The 2024 event, with the theme Growing Together, gathered pairs of bishops, Catholic and Anglican, from 27 different countries around the world.

The summit began in Rome on 22 January, with introductions to the background and history of the commission and presentations by each bishop–pair on the ecclesial and ecumenical situations in their countries. On Tuesday 23 January, the Anglican office of Choral Evensong was celebrated in the Chapel of the Choir in St Peter’s Basilica. Other elements of the Rome phase of the summit included a discussion on synodality in the two traditions and reflection on justice, peace and reconciliation, including testimonies about the challenging situations in their territories by the bishops from Sudan, South Sudan and the Holy Land.