Fraternal visits between Popes and Archbishops of Canterbury
1966-
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis greeting ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Welby reading his address to Pope Francis ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walking within the Vatican during the Archbishop's visit ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby laughing ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby greets Pope Francis during visit to Rome ~ 14 June 2013
Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby greet during visit to Rome ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Welby sitting with Pope Francis ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby greets Pope Francis during visit to Rome ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Justin Welby and Pope Francis share a laugh during their first visit ~ 14 June 2013
Archbishop Rowan Williams, left, with Pope Benedict XVI walking up stairs as they arrive for vespers at the Basilica of St. Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome ~ 10 Mar. 2012
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, Pope Benedict XVI, and Jane Williams ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the papal visit to the UK ~ 17 Sept. 2010
Visit of Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan Williams to Pope Benedict XVI ~ 21 Nov. 2009
Pope Benedict XVI and the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, hold a private meeting in the Pope's study at the Vatican ~ May 2008
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI met in Rome ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury and Pope Benedict XVI signing common declaration ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI - Common Declaration ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Archbishop Rowan Williams and Pope Benedict XVI ~ 23 Nov. 2006
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI embrace after signing Common Declaration (visible in the Archbishop's left hand) ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Dr Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, seated in the Sistine Chapel during the 1966 visit of Ramsey to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI (left) and Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury (centre) signed a common declaration during the Archbishop's visit to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
During the visit of Michael Ramsey to Pope Paul VI, the pope removed his own episcopal ring and presented it to the Archbishop. On all subsequent visits to Rome, Archbishops of Canterbury have worn this ring ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI view an icon during the first official visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to the Pope ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey in the Sistine Chapel ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI places his episcopal ring on the finger of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Archbishop Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI holding copies of their Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey examining their Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey embracing during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey seated ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey sign the first Common Declaration ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
Pope Paul VI and Archbishop of Canterbury Michael Ramsey during the visit of the Archbishop to Rome ~ 24 Mar. 1966
The first visit of an Archbishop of Canterbury to a reigning pope since the Reformation occurred in 1960 when Geoffrey Fisher visited John XXIII. Beginning in 1966, a series of official fraternal visits has occurred, in most cases by the Archbishop visiting the Pope, although in 1982 and 2010 the Pope visited Britain. A key feature of some of these visits has been the “Common Declarations” issued by the two leaders. During other visits there have been communiqués, public addresses, and photos to commemorate the occasion.
Declarations
- Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Dr. Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury
Michael Ramsey and Paul VI ~ Rome, 24 Mar. 1966
- Common Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Dr. Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury
Paul VI and Donald Coggan ~ Rome, 29 Apr. 1977
- Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Dr. Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II and Robert Runcie ~ Canterbury, 29 May 1982
- Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Dr. Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II and Robert Runcie ~ Rome, 2 Oct. 1989
- Common Declaration of Pope John Paul II and Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II and George Carey ~ Rome, 5 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-379
- Common Declaration of Pope Benedict XVI and Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams and Benedict XVI ~ Rome, 23 Nov. 2006
- Common Declaration of Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby
Francis and Justin Welby ~ Rome, 5 Oct. 2016
Letters, addresses, & greetings
- Address of Pope Paul VI to the Archbishop of Canterbury
Paul VI ~ Rome, 23 Mar. 1966
- Address of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Paul VI
Michael Ramsey ~ Rome, 23 Mar. 1966
- Homily given at solemn vespers at San Gregorio by Pope John Paul II
John Paul II ~ Rome, 30 Sept. 1989
- Address of Pope John Paul II to Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II ~ Rome, 30 Sept. 1989
- Greeting of Archbishop George Carey to Pope John Paul II
George Carey ~ Rome, 3 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-373
- Greeting of Pope John Paul II to Archbishop of Canterbury
John Paul II ~ Rome, 3 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-374
- Archbishop George Carey’s address to Pope John Paul II
George Carey ~ Rome, 5 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-375
- Pope John Paul II’s address to Archbishop George Carey
John Paul II ~ Rome, 5 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-376
- Homily given at solemn vespers at San Gregorio by Pope John Paul II
John Paul II ~ Rome, 5 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-377
- Homily given at solemn vespers at San Gregorio by Archbishop George Carey
George Carey ~ Rome, 5 Dec. 1996 ~ ARCIC-II-378
- Address of Archbishop George Carey to Pope John Paul II
George Carey ~ Rome, 21 June 2002
- Address of Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Francis
Justin Welby ~ Rome, 14 June 2013
- Address of Pope Francis to Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Francis ~ Rome, 14 June 2013
- Address of Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury to Pope Francis
Justin Welby ~ Rome, 16 June 2014
- Address of Pope Francis to Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Francis ~ Rome, 16 June 2014
- Address of Pope Francis to Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Francis ~ Rome, 6 Oct. 2016
Communiqués & Press Releases
Photo gallery