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Pope Leo XIV greets Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople during an audience with ecumenical guests on the day after the inaugural Mass of of his papacy
Pope reaffirms commitment to ecumenical, interreligious dialogue (19 May 2025)

A view of the crowd gathered for the funeral of Pope Francis. The photo was taken from among the ecumenical delegation to the left of the altar
Through papal funeral, Christ proclaimed living Saviour for all (12 May 2025)

A Statement from the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury's Representative to the Holy See
A Statement from the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See (9 May 2025)

Pope Leo XIV appears on the loggia in St. Peter's Basilica after his election as the 267th pope and bishop of Rome
Biography of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost (8 May 2025)

he Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, has shared a message of encouragement on the election of Pope Leo XIV
A message of encouragement from the Secretary General on the election of Pope Leo XIV (8 May 2025)

News & Opinion from the Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogues

Pope Benedict XVI: a statement from the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion
31 December 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4344
Pope Benedict XVI and the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, hold a private meeting in the Pope's study at the Vatican

The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Anthony Poggo, has issued a statement following the death of Benedict XVI, expressing hisgreat sadnessand assuring brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church of his prayers.

Bishop Anthony Poggo is currently returning to the UK from Tanzania after preaching the Christmas Day sermon Christ Church Cathedral in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Speaking at the airport, he said:

It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

Statement by the Archbishop of Canterbury on the death of Pope Benedict XVI
31 December 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4347
Pope Benedict XVI

Today I join with the church throughout the world, and especially with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and all in the Catholic Church, in mourning the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

In Pope Benedicts long life and ministry of service to Christ in His Church he saw many profound changes in the church and in the world. He lived through the Nazi regime in Germany and served briefly in the Second World War. As a younger theologian and priest he witnessed firsthand the discussions of the Second Vatican Council. As a professor and then as an Archbishop he lived in a divided Germany but saw too the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of his homeland.

St Chad ‘returns’ to Lichfield Cathedral
7 November 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4287
An artist’s impression of the new Shrine of St Chad at the Church of England's Lichfield Cathedral. The Archdiocese of Birmingham has given a portion of the relics of St Chad to establish the new shrine on the original site

A relic of St Chad is due to transferred from Birmingham to Lichfield cathedral tomorrow as a shrine of St Chad is reinstated in the location of the original medieval shrine.

St Chad, a monk and abbot, moved his see from Repton to Lichfield when he was made Bishop of Mercia in 669. He died just three years later in a plague. He became associated with healing, until his relics had to be moved during the Dissolution. They were eventually enshrined at St Chads new Catholic cathedral in Birmingham when it opened in 1841, in a new ark designed by Pugin.

Pope Francis prays for unity of church as he celebrates anniversary of Vatican II
11 October 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4261
Bishops gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica for the opening session of the Second Vatican Council

The Second Vatican Council was the universal Catholic Churchs response to Gods love and to Jesuscommand to feed his sheep, Pope Francis said, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the councils opening.

The council reminded the church of what isessential,” the pope said: “a church madly in love with its Lord and with all the men and women whom he loves,” one thatis rich in Jesus and poor in assets,” a church thatis free and freeing.”

Irish Benedictine to lead Vatican’s relations with Anglicans and Methodists
7 October 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4278
Fr Martin Browne, OSB

Pope Francis has appointed an Irish Benedictine to lead the Vaticans dialogue with the Anglican Communion. The Irish Catholic reports Fr. Martin Browne OSB, a monk at Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, County Limerick, Ireland will shortly take up the post in the Vaticans Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.  He succeeds Fr. Anthony Currer as the official for Methodist and Anglican Relations.

‘Ecumenical winter’ must end, declares Archbishop Welby
8 September 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4257
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the WCC Assembly during the thematic plenary on Christian unity

At times of world crisis, thehabits of divisionbetween Christians must end, the Archbishop of Canterbury said on Wednesday. He was addressing the 11th World Council of Churches (WCC) Assembly, meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany (Comment, 2 September).

Archbishop Welby spoke of the Lambeth Conference meeting in Canterbury over the summer (News, 19 August), at which participants had expressedhuge differencesover matters such as human sexuality. “We found our way forward through, not by solving the issues but by living in the light of Christ, by saying we do not agree, by being honest without excluding one another.”

Archbishop of Canterbury: “In this time of world crisis, Christians are to be a community of peace”
7 September 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4255
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the WCC Assembly during the thematic plenary on Christian unity

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly on 7 September.

The archbishop spoke of how the theme of the WCC assembly—“Christs love moves the world to reconciliation and unity”—resonates with the theme of the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops, held in August under the themeGods Church for Gods World.”

Archbishop of Canterbury addresses the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches
7 September 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4253
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby addressed the WCC Assembly during the thematic plenary on Christian unity

Archbishop Justin today addressed the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches. The WCC Assembly is the highest governing body of the World Council of Churches, and normally meets every eight years. This years conference took place between 31st August8th September 2022. It is the only time when the entire fellowship of member churches come together in one place for prayer and celebration. The theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches isChrists love moves the world to reconciliation and unity“.

Pope Francis wants WCC assembly that strengthens bonds between churches
1 September 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4259
Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (Roman Catholic Church) delivers greetings from Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church to the WCC 11th Assembly during its first thematic plenary, focused on Care for Creation. The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches is held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme ‘Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity’

Pope Francis, sent greetings to the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly as it opened.

The Pope wished the representatives of the churches at the 31 August to 8 September assemblya meaningful and fruitful meeting that deepens and strengthens the bonds of communion between the Churches and the ecumenical organizations present.”

The pontiff said in advance greetings that he has apastoral interest in the work of the Assembly.”

Pope Francis also noted that the Catholic Church has sentdelegated observersto WCC assemblies since the WCC 3rd Assembly took place in New Delhi in 1961.

Living Church Foundation’s Christopher Wells to be Anglican Director of Unity, Faith & Order
7 August 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4240
The Secretary General-Designate of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Anthony Poggo; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; and the Director-Designate of the Anglican Communion's Unity, Faith & Order department, Dr Christopher Wells

The Executive Director of the Living Church Foundation, Dr Christopher Wells, has been named as the next Director of Unity, Faith and Order for the Anglican Communion. Dr Wells will succeed the Venerable Dr William Adam, who was installed as Archdeacon of Canterbury last month.

As Director of Unity Faith and Order, Christopher Wells will lead and support the work of the InterAnglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) – the international body that advises provinces, the Secretary General and the Instruments of Communion on ecumenical relations and doctrine. He will also serve as the lead staff member for Anglican Communion delegations to official international ecumenical dialogues.

Churches must overcome divisions to achieve common witness, cardinal tells Anglicans
5 August 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4242
Spouses’ strengthening sessions, 'Safe Spaces,' during the 2022 Lambeth Conference at Canterbury

The Vaticans lead cardinal for promoting Christian unity has warned of anecumenical emergencywhich undermines evangelisation, unless Churches can find a common purpose in the ecumenical movement.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, the prefect of the dicastery for promoting Christian unity, said in a message to the Anglican bishops attending the Lambeth Conference that acommon ecumenical witness to Jesus Christ in the present world is only possible when Christian churches overcome their divisions”.

He said that there were different visions of ecumenism, from Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox perspectives, soasking questions about the goal of the ecumenical movement, and consequently of a more precise understanding of Church unity cannot simply be done in an abstract way”. Instead, “this questioning is always directed and informed by prior ecclesial decisions of a confessional nature”.

This means that the still largely lacking agreement on the goal of the ecumenical movement is rooted in a still largely lacking ecumenical agreement on the nature of the Church and its unity.” This means, he continued, thatthere are basically as many ecumenical goals as there are confessional ecclesiologies”.

Lambeth 2022: Anglican Communion has shifted on sexuality, says Bishop Vann
4 August 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4251
A group of bishops at the Lambeth Conference. From left: the Area Bishop of York-Scarborough, the Rt Revd Kevin Robertson; the Bishop of Michigan, Dr Bonnie Perry; the Bishop of Missouri, the Rt Revd Deon K. Johnson; the Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Revd Cherry Vann; the Rt Revd Mary Glasspool, an assistant bishop in the diocese of New York; and the Bishop of Maine, the Rt Revd Thomas J Brown

The headlines were always likely to be: “Archbishop validates Lambeth 1.10” — but thats only part of the story, the Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Revd Cherry Vann, said on Thursday, at the Lambeth Conference.

One of the joys of the Call on Human Dignity on Tuesday, she said, had been the recognition, for the first time, that countries across the world were in very different places over human sexuality. “Justin very clearly said that to bless civil partnerships and gay marriages, in most parts of the Anglican Communion, would mean the end of the Church, because there would be no credence or credibility whatsoever.

Similarly, if in the West we were not to do that, exactly the same thing would apply. I think that, for the first time, that is being publicly acknowledged by someone of Justins standing.

Anglican Communion bishops’ portrait shows glimpse of unity during tense Lambeth Conference
29 July 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4248
The Anglican Bishops and guests attending the Lambeth Conference pose for their group photograph during the 2022 Lambeth Conference at the University of Kent in Canterbury, United Kingdom

They marched up the hill wearing vestments of all styles and colors and speaking an array of languages from around the world. They laughed, sang and danced as they climbed the bleachers and lined up in rows, from shortest to tallest. And then, after some final adjustments and one fainting spell, the last one took her seat and there they were: the bishops of the Anglican Communion.

The portrait of all 650+ bishops in attendance is a tradition dating back to the first Lambeth Conference in 1867. That first portrait, showing a small group of white men in black suits, is unrecognizable from the one taken on July 29 on an athletic field at the University of Kent, under a blazing sun.

Anglican bishops from around the world gather for the 15th Lambeth Conference
27 July 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4236
Bishops arrive for the 15th Lambeth Conference

From across the 165 countries of the Anglican Communion, bishops are gathering in Canterbury today to pray, study scripture, discuss global challenges and seek Gods direction for the decade ahead.

The Lambeth Conference 2022, which runs until August 7, is only the 15th such global gathering of Anglican bishops in 155 years.

The event was postponed from 2020 because of the Covid 19 pandemic and takes place against a backdrop of global uncertaintyincluding the climate emergency, war and poverty.

Taking as their themeGods Church for Gods World”, the bishops will spend time praying and studying the Bible together (focussing on the book of 1 Peter) as well as discussing major challenges faced by their global communitiesranging from climate change and scientific progress to Christian Unity and interfaith relations.

Global Anglican Communion given greater voice in choosing future Archbishops of Canterbury
12 July 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4223
Primates from across the global Anglican Communion at the 2022 Primates' Meeting

Churches from the global Anglican Communion will be formally represented on the body which nominates future Archbishops of Canterbury.

Until now the wider worldwide Anglican Communion, outside of England, has been represented by just one of the 16 members of the Crown Nominations Commission (CNC) for the See of Canterbury.

But under changes to the Standing Orders of the General Synod formally approved today, there will now be five representatives of other churches of the Anglican Communionone each from Africa; the Americas; Middle East and Asia; Oceania and Europe.

The new rules will also ensure the inclusion of laity and clergy as well as bishops; a balance of men and women and that at least half of the five will be of Global Majority Heritage.

All diocesan bishops of the Church of England, including the archbishops, are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen following a nomination by the Crown Nominations Commission for the see.

Canada’s Primate meets Pope Francis as Roman Catholics look to Anglican model of synod
5 July 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4219
Anglican Archbishop Linda Nicholls, the Anglican primate of Canada and acting co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, speaks to Pope Francis during a meeting in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican

Anglicans have an indispensable role to play as Roman Catholics start a twoyear conversation on how to become a moresynodalchurch, Pope Francis said at his first meeting with Archbishop Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

Nicholls met the pope at the latest meeting of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), which took place in May at the Vaticans Apostolic Palace in Rome. Due to the absence of Philip Freier, archbishop of Melbourne and Anglican cochair of ARCIC who was attending the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, the primate spoke on behalf of the Anglican side of the dialogue. Nicholls presented a formal statement on ARCIC from the Anglican perspective. ARCICs other cochair, Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham, England, spoke on behalf of Roman Catholics.

It was really very lovely,” the primate said of her meeting with Francis. “The pope is a very warm and gracious man who really pays attention to the people hes with and gives you his full attention while youre there.”

Anglican-Lutheran relations: Looking towards Lambeth
28 June 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4215
Rev Dr Will Adam

Archdeacon of Canterbury Dr Will Adam shares ecumenical insights and hopes ahead of the 15th Lambeth Conference.

Anglican bishops from around the globe are gearing up for a major event in the life of their communion which will shape the ministry and mission of its members over the next decade. The fifteenth Lambeth Conference takes place in Canterbury from 26 July to 8 August, bringing together over 600 bishops, alongside spouses, ecumenical observers and other invited guests.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt will be taking part in that meeting, together with Prof. Dirk Lange, LWFs Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations. Among those on hand to welcome them to the ancient city on the southeastern tip of England will be a friend and ecumenical expert, Rev. Dr Will Adam, who was recently appointed Archdeacon of Canterbury.

Originally held at Lambeth Palace, the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury on the banks of the river Thames in London, the Lambeth Conference has been meeting more or less once a decade since 1867 for prayer, reflection, fellowship and discussions on the challenges facing the 80millionmember global communion. It is one of the four, socalled Instruments of Unity of the Anglican Communion.

Archbishop of Canterbury, Lambeth Conference planners set tone of unity over division for upcoming summer gathering
22 June 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4198
Bishops prepare for their group photo at the 2008 Lambeth Conference

With the 15th Lambeth Conference scheduled this summer, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is seeking to unite the Anglican Communion under common expressions of faith and social engagement, rather than focusing on debates over human sexuality that have divided bishops at past conferences.

The aim of this conferencewhich, like all the [Lambeth] conferences, is a very significant moment in the life of the communityis to encourage Anglicans around the world to be looking outwards to the world,” he said in a press conference with conference organizers on June 22. “The church should express its mission and its life of discipleship through engagement with the great challenges that the next 30 or 40 years will impose upon the vast majority of Anglicans, especially those in areas of climate fragility, and political and other fragility.”

The Lambeth Conference, a gathering of bishops from across the Anglican Communion that has taken place about every 10 years since 1867, is being held July 26 to Aug. 8 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England; Canterbury Cathedral; and Lambeth Palace in London. The conference is one of the three Anglican instruments of communion, in addition to the PrimatesMeeting and the Anglican Consultative Council, the communions main policymaking body.

The conference was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, but postponed due to the COVID19 pandemic. The conference last met 14 years ago in 2008.

Nigerian, Rwandan and Ugandan bishops’ invitation to Lambeth Conference remains open
22 June 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4201
From L-R: Archbishops Henry Ndukuba of Nigeria, Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, and Stephen Kaziimba of Uganda have received a letter from Archbishops Justin Welby and Josiah Idowu-Fearon after they issued a statement in response to the Primates' Meeting earlier this year

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written to the Primates of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda to tell them that his invitation to bishops from their provinces to attend the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops remains open. In a joint letter with the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Josiah IdowuFearon, Archbishop Justin said: “God calls us to unity and not to conflict so that the world may know he came from the Father. That is the very purpose of the church globally.”

Boycotts do not proclaim Christ”, the two Anglican leaders said. “Those who stay away cannot be heard, they will lose influence and the chance of shaping the future. All of us will be the poorer spiritually as a result of your absence.”

His letter was in response to a joint statement issued by the three PrimatesArchbishop Henry Ndukuba of Nigeria, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda, and Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba of Ugandain response to the Communiqué from the PrimatesMeeting at Lambeth Palace, London, in March, which they did not attend.

Former child refugee named as next Secretary General of the Anglican Communion
14 June 2022 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4186
Bishop Anthony Poggo has been selected as the next Secretary General of the Anglican Communion

A South Sudanese bishop who was forced with his family into exile before he was one year old, the Right Revd Anthony Poggo, has been named as the next Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. Bishop Anthony Poggo, the former Bishop of KajoKeji in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, is currently the Archbishop of Canterburys Adviser on Anglican Communion Affairs.

Bishop Anthony was selected for his new role by a subcommittee of the Anglican Communions Standing Committee following a competitive recruitment process led by external consultants.

He will take up his new role in September, succeeding the Most Revd Dr Josiah IdowuFearon, who steps down after next months Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops, which is being held in Canterbury, Kent, from 26 July to 8 August.

The Anglican Communion is the worlds third largest Christian denomination. It comprises 42 independentyetinterdependent autonomous regional, national and pannational Churches (provinces), active in more than 165 countries.

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