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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

Archbishop Justin’s commentary on ‘Fratelli tutti’
12 October 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3792
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet during visit to Rome

In this Encyclical, Pope Francis sets out a clear, exciting and ambitious vision of the role of human friendship and solidarity as the basis for a better future world order.

Throughout this work, he interweaves the themes of the individual and the social, and stresses their necessary interdependence, rejecting the extremes both of individualism and of social collectivism as contrary to the true dignity and rights of all human beings. His is a true and clearly Christian voice of radical moderation, neither captured by the individualism of the culture nor a prisoner of the dreams of social collectivism.

The Lambeth Conference reschedules to 2022
6 July 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3730
The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced the rescheduling of the Lambeth Conference originally planned for 2020

In March it was announced that due to the COVID19 pandemic and global restrictions on travel and mass gatherings, the Lambeth Conference of 2020 would need to be rescheduled to the British summer of 2021. The Archbishop of Canterbury has now taken the important decision to reschedule the Lambeth Conference by a further year to the British summer of 2022. The conference will meet in 2022 in Canterbury. In the above filmed message to the Anglican Communion, the Archbishop has also announced that a wider programme will be developed before and after the event delivered virtually and through other meetings. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Archbishop of Canterbury and conference planning teams have been monitoring the situation, following relevant advice from public and global health authorities as it becomes available. They have also undertaken ongoing consultation with Primates, bishops and spousesabout the impact of COVID19 in their countries. As with most large scale events and conferences of this natureplanning for events in such an unstable climate is difficult. As an international gathering (the Lambeth Conference invites bishops and spouses from over 165 countries) there are a significant number of uncertainties that make preparations for a 2021 meeting challenging. Whilst some lock down measures are starting to ease in some countries, social distancing measures, travel restrictions and quarantine measures could impede logistics and delegatestravel planning for the foreseeable future. There are also the risks of a potential second wave of the virus and the reality that there are different phases in how the pandemic is spreading around the worldwith no vaccine yet available.

Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop Welby pray together on first day of church opening
16 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3619
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown

On Monday 15th June, to mark the reopening of churches for individual prayer, Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby prayed together in Westminster Cathedral and Abbey to mark thismoment of grace,’ as the Cardinal said in his homily for Corpus Christi. As the West Doors opened for the first time in nearly three months, they were greeted by Acting Administrator Fr Daniel Humphreys and Precentor Fr Andrew Gallagher. Proceeding into the sacred space, they knelt in sociallydistant prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Leaving the Cathedral, they walked across Victoria Street to Westminster Abbey. Arriving at the Abbey, they were greeted by the Dean of Westminster Dr David Hoyle, who took them to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor where they prayed in silence. Praying together was a visual reminder of the importance of prayer in churches and to emphasise the significance of this day.

Abbey opens its doors and welcomes two Archbishops
15 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3624
Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Archbishop Justin Welby praying at Westminster Cathedral on the first day of re-opening after COVID-19 shutdown

Two of the countrys most senior church leaders visited Westminster Abbey today (Monday 15th June) when the Great West Door opened for the first time in three months since churches were closed for the Covid19 lockdown.

Following Government guidance, the Abbey now has reopened for private prayer. Two of the first visitors were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby; and Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.

They were welcomed to the Abbey by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, and taken to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor behind the High Altar where they all prayed in silence.

Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols’ Joint Statement on West Bank Annexation
12 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3621
This week, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster wrote to both the Israeli Ambassador, Mark Regev, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, expressing their opposition to any move by the Government of Israel to annex West Bank territory after 1 July 2020

This week, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster wrote to both the Israeli Ambassador, Mark Regev, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, expressing their opposition to any move by the Government of Israel to annex West Bank territory after 1 July 2020.

These letters followed the recent warning from the leaders of Churches in the Holy Land that the Government of Israels proposed annexation of West Bank territory wouldbring about the loss of any remaining hope for the success of the peace process.”

In each letter they made clear theyunambiguously support the fundamental right of Israels citizens to live in peace and safety but these prospects can only be secured through negotiation rather than annexation.” It is essential that both Israelis and Palestinians may live without violence or the threat of violence from each other or other armed groups, the Cardinal and Archbishop emphasised.

Growing mutual trust: The path of relations with Anglicans and Methodists
10 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3616
Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1945-1961. He was the first Archbishop to visit Rome since the Reformation

On 1st December 1960 the Right Reverend Geoffrey Fisher flew from Jerusalem to Rome and the following morning was received in private audience by Pope Saint John XXIII. It was the first visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope since Archbishop Arundel in 1397. It was also the first visit of its kind, that of a head of a Christian communion to the Pope, with which the newly formed Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity was involved. The extent of that involvement is difficult to establish. The Secretariats first secretary, Mgr Willebrands, had met Archbishop Fisher at a meeting of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in St Andrews, Scotland, in August 1959. Shortly afterwards Pope John communicated his willingness to meet the archbishop leading to speculation that Willebrands and Fisher came up with the plan at the WCC meeting. The use of WCC meetings to establish bilateral relations was frowned upon and so Fisher firmly denied that the visit was anything other than his idea and initiative.

Pope Francis’ video message for Thy Kingdom Come 2020
1 June 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3632
Pope Francis greets Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 27, 2017

Pope Francis recorded a videomessage which was broadcast as part of the Pentecost service of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend Justin Welby. The period between the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost has traditionally been a time of prayer for Christian unity. Pentecost celebrates that moment when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, peoples of many different languages were united in hearing and accepting the first preaching of the resurrection of Jesus. In the southern hemisphere many countries keep these days as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and by promoting the Thy Kingdom Come movement, Archbishop Welby has made it a special time for Christians to unite in prayer for the evangelisation of the world. In the videomessage Pope Francis prays that Christiansbe more deeply united as witnesses of mercy for the human familyand warns, “We cannot ask others to be united if we ourselves take different paths.”

New book of Pope Francis on communication prefaced by Archbishop Justin Welby
25 May 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3630
A new book of Pope Francis' writings on human relationships, Diversi e uniti, contains a preface by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

A new volume of theExchange of Giftsseries of the Vatican Publishing House (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, LEV) has been issued. EntitledDiversi e uniti. Comunico quindi sono” (“Diverse and United: I communicate, therefore I am“), the book draws together a selection of Pope Francis‘s writings in which he reflects on human relationshipsthe relationships that exist between people created in the image of God.

The text is introduced by Most Reverend Dr Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of Anglicans worldwide. In his preface, Archbishop Welby writes, “My brother in Christ, Pope Francis, lays before us in his words the promise of divine love and mercy: the love that God has for His people and the invitation that God gives to each of us to be in a relationship with Him“.

Unity, Faith and Order
7 February 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3556
The Revd Dr Will Adam with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby

The Department for Unity, Faith and Order in the Anglican Communion has at its core the search for deeper unity between Christians, be that within and between the churches of the Anglican Communion or between the Anglican Communion and other Christian churches and bodies.

Much of the work of Unity, Faith and Order (which goes by the extraterrestrial acronym UFO) is taken up with encouraging Christians to talk together. Over the course of the last century much work has been done to break down mutual suspicion and division between churches by patient dialogue and the building up of relationships. This happens at the local level, where Christians find that when they come together to pray or get involved with mission and ministry that they have more in common than they first thought. It also happens at national and international level, when theologians from different churches and traditions talk together to come to agreement on issues that have previously divided them.

Anglican Communion called to repent as primates affirm commitment to walk together
20 January 2020 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3558
A new Communion-wide Eucharistic liturgy prepared by the Task Group was used for the first time during a service for Primates on the shores of the River Jordan

The work of the Task Group which was established by the Archbishop of Canterbury after the January 2016 PrimatesMeeting has been commended by the Primates. The Task Group has called for a Season of Repentance, focused around the fifth Sunday in Lent this year (29 March), and has prepared a common Anglican Communion eucharistic liturgy and papers on Anglican identity.

In their communiqué, released at the end of last weeks PrimatesMeeting, the Primates explained that the Task Group was establishedto look at how we might walk together despite the complexities we face.”

They added: “at this meeting we affirmed our continued commitment to walk together; we received the work of the Task Group and commended it to the other Instruments of Communionthe Lambeth Conference and the Anglican Consultative Council.”

They also recommended that a new group be establishedto continue the work of the Task Group to explore how we live and work together in the light of the Lambeth Conference.

A Joint Christmas 2019 Message from Archbishops Richard Clarke and Eamon Martin
19 December 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3562
Irish Archbishops Richard Clarke and Eamon Martin. Photo: Church of Ireland

Together we wish you Gods richest blessings this Christmas and through the year ahead.

These few days at the turn of the year offer an opportunity for people who are normally very busy to give worthwhile time to family and friends. It can also be a stressful and difficult time for people who feel estranged from friends and loved ones to whom they were once close, and for those who feel they have noone they can truly call a friend.

Over Christmas and New Year many people are able to rekindle relationships that have somehow gone sour. We are all capable of bringing light and love into another persons lifeperhaps someone for whom hope itself is fading, someone who desperately needs the rekindling of trust that only care and friendship can bring. Jesus Christ came into the world to bring us not only the light of his love but also the warmth of his friendship. Indeed, he assured his disciples that they were more than justfollowers”; they were hisfriends” (John 15.15).

Dialogue continues on path of co-operation
1 December 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3566
Bishop Brian Dunn, Catholic co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue in Canada

Catholics and Anglicans in Canada have been working on their relationship ever since Gen. James Wolfe surprised Gen. LouisJoseph, Marquis de Montcalm on the Plains of Abraham in the fall of 1759.

By 1763 King Louis XV had no choice but to cede Frances North American possessions entirely to Englands King George III. The practicalities of a Protestant king and his Protestant army trying to impose their religion on a majority Catholic population were such that the English made allowances for the Catholic Church while they granted land and paid clergy salaries for the Anglicans.

More than 250 years later, the dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans in Canada carries on, unhindered by royalty and without much reference to the Seven YearsWar. The latest round ended Nov. 18 in Toronto after three days with a presentation to theology students at Trinity College of the Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto.

Archbishop of Canterbury visits Pope Francis and installs new Director of the Anglican Centre
19 November 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4037
Pope Francis embraces Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Communion, during a meeting in the pope’s Vatican residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae

On Wednesday 13th November the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend Justin Welby, visited Rome and met with Pope Francis at Casa Santa Marta. The Pope and Archbishop spent more than 30 minutes together in private conversation before the Pope greeted members of the Archbishops delegation. The delegation included Archbishop Welbys wife, Mrs Caroline Welby, Archbishop Ian Ernest, the new Director of the Anglican Centre, and his wife Mrs Kamla Ernest, and Bishop Michael Burrows, the Chair of Governors of the Anglican Centre.

Afterwards, Archbishop Welby said of the meeting, “We discussed our shared passion for peace in South Sudan and agreed that if the political situation permits the creation of a transitional government of national unity, it is our intention to visit together. Our commitment to the teaching of Jesus means we long to see a lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan. We renew our call for spiritual and political leaders there to strive for peace.” It is hoped that Pope Francis and Archbishop Welby will be able to visit South Sudan in the early part of 2020. The Holy Sees press office released an official communiqué relating to the visit.

Vatican notes growing ecumenical consensus on what ‘church’ means
25 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3568
Pope Francis attends an ecumenical prayer service at the World Council of Churches' ecumenical center in Geneva in 2018. Responding in October to a WCC document on the nature and mission of the church, the Vatican said that while Catholics cannot share the Eucharist with other Christians, they can and should pray and work together. Photo: Paul Haring/CNS

Working for Christian unity and engaging in formal theological dialogues to promote it obviously raises questions about what the nature and mission of the church is. In a project that took two decades of work by Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, Catholic and Pentecostal theologians, the World Council of Churches in 2013 published a document summarizing the points of greatest consensus. In late October, the Vatican gave the WCC its formal response to the document, which was calledThe Church: Towards a Common Vision.”

The response, coordinated by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and posted on its website, included input from Catholic theologians from around the world, bishopsconferences and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. What is meant bychurchis a key ecumenical question as Christians work and pray for the unity Jesus wanted his followers to have, the Catholic response said. Or, as the WCC document said, “agreement on ecclesiology has long been identified as the most elemental theological objective in the quest for Christian unity.”

Anglican Delegation attends John Henry Newman’s Canonization
15 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=4044
Anglican Delegation attends John Henry Newman’s Canonization

Among the thousands from England and Wales in Rome this past Sunday, 13 October 2019, for the canonization of John Henry Newman was an official delegation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Anglican Communion and Church of England. This delegation was headed by the Most Reverend Ian Ernest, the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterburys Representative to the Holy See. The Prince of Wales lead the UK delegation, along with HM Ambassador to the Holy See, Sally Axworthy.

During the entrance procession, Pope Francis stopped to greet Archbishop Ian Ernest and later gratefully acknowledged the presence of the Anglican delegation before the Angelus: “I address a special thought to the delegates of the Anglican Communion, with profound gratitude for their presence and I also welcome you, dear Brother, the new Archbishop [director of the Anglican Centre] here in Rome.”

Joint statement on the canonization of John Henry Newman
10 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3456
John Everett Millais, ‘Portrait of John Henry Newman’

To mark the canonization of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, taking place on Sunday, 13 October 2019, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) have prepared a joint statement of thanksgiving for his Christian witness to the world. The statement is signed by Archbishop Richard Gagnon, President of the CCCB, and Archbishop Linda Nicholls, Primate of the ACC.

Saint John Henry Newman was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was uniquely graced by the Holy Spirit with many personal, intellectual, and spiritual gifts. Baptized into Christ in the Church of England, his particular journey of faithfulness, through the baptism we all share, would call him into service as a priest, scholar, and educator, and later as a Roman Catholic theologian and eventual member of the College of Cardinals. Along the way, his talents and charisms were nurtured and shared in a variety of ways in both our traditions, to their significant mutual benefit.

Cardinal John Henry Newman might well be the patron saint of ecumenism
8 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3452
Bishop Fintan Monahan, the Roman Catholic bishop of Killaloe

Theologian, scholar, educationalist, poet, novelist, convert, cardinal and blessed are some of the outstanding titles of John Henry Newman we can celebrate on the occasion of his canonisation in Rome

Yet, 174 years after he converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism, it is his conversion that we remember as the great watershed moment of his life.

Newman, the convert, created a huge stir at the time as did those of his contemporaries who became Catholics in the Oxford Movement. There is no doubt but that the church then, and oftentimes since, saw Newmans conversion as a boost to Catholicism that evoked a measure of triumphalism in the church.

Joint effort puts archives under one roof
5 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3570
An artist’s rendition of the interior of a new archive project expected to bring together the archives of the Archdiocese of Kingston with two religious orders and the Anglican Diocese of Ontario at the now closed Church of the Good Thief in Kingston, Ont.

Two dioceses in eastern Ontarioone Catholic and one Anglicanalong with two religious orders are in talks to share one facility for all four entitiesarchival records. Its a project that some involved hope sets a precedent for future sharing between different faiths that are seeing declining numbers. “We hope this project will be trendsetting as an ecumenical archives project that relies heavily on partnerships of likeminded institutions,” said Veronica Stienburg, archivist for the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in Kingston, Ont.

The project would see the archives of the Archdiocese of Kingston, the Sisters of Providence, the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and the Anglican Diocese of Ontario all moved into the closed Church of the Good Thief in Portsmouth Village area of Kingston. The church was closed by the archdiocese in 2013 due to the deteriorating condition of the building and a lack of clergy to staff it. The archdiocese wants to keep the building however, which was added to the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 2008. It has a heritage property designation from the City of Kingston and is protected by an Ontario Trust heritage easement. Readers of The Catholic Register may also remember it from the columns of the late Msgr. Thomas Raby, who was pastor there late in his life.

ARCIC Theologian, Fr Paul Béré, wins the Ratzinger Prize in Theology, 2019
1 October 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3449
Fr Paul Béré, SJ has been awarded the 2019 Ratzinger Prize

Fr Paul Béré, SJ will be awarded the Ratzinger Prize in Theology by Pope Francis on 9th November 2019. In announcing the news the President of the Ratzinger Foundation, Fr Frederico Lombardi, made particular mention of Fr Béré’s membership of the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission. Father Béré was appointed as a member of ARCIC in 2018.

Originating from Burkino Faso, though born in Ivory Coast, Fr Béré entered the Jesuits in 1990. He completed a doctorate at the Biblical Institute in Rome and has taught Old Testament and biblical languages at the Jesuit theologate in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and more recently has been appointed to teach in the Biblical Institute in Rome. Fr Béré has led several important projects for the development of theology in Africa, participated in the establishment of the first Jesuit School of Theology in Africa and launched a journal to promote research in African theology. His participation as an expert in several synods of bishops and his contribution to the General Secretariat of the Synods have enabled Africa to establish itself in the world of theological research. In recognising him the Ratzinger Foundation paid tribute to this contribution he has made to the development of theology in Africa.

Papal embrace for new director of the Anglican Centre in Rome during Mauritius visit
13 September 2019 • Persistent link: iarccum.org/?p=3572
Pope Francis delivers a speech in Port Louis on 9 September 2019 during his visit to Mauritius. Photo: Vatican Media/Reuters

The visit of Pope Francis to Mauritius on Monday brought fresh energy and confidence to Christians in the country, according to the Bishop of Mauritius, Ian Earnest, who leaves this month to take up his new role as Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.

Former Primate of the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean, Archbishop Ian Ernest, attended the mass at the Mary Queen of Peace Monument at which the Pope presided during his daylong visit to the Island. The Archbishop said the timing of the Popes visit, just weeks before he begins his new role in Rome, made him think about how God works. “It was a great opportunity to meet with him, to be part of this eucharistic celebration at which he presided in front of 100,000 people with the authorities of the country.”

The eucharist was attended by people from all areas of Mauritius and of many different religious persuasions. Archbishop Ian said: “As Anglicans we were praying the Popes visit would create an impact on our people so that they can see and discover the values of the kingdom of God. We had been preparing for that and we have not been disappointed.”

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