Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop of Canterbury Meet in Landmark Vatican Encounter

Pope Leo XIV and Sarah Mullally have met for the first time at the Vatican, in a symbolic moment for relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

The meeting, held on Monday at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, saw the two leaders pray together and exchange gifts, underlining efforts to strengthen ties between Christian denominations separated for nearly five centuries.

Mullally, the first woman to lead the world’s estimated 85 million Anglicans, described the encounter as a privilege and expressed gratitude for the Pope’s leadership, particularly his outspoken stance on global issues such as war and injustice.

“The world needed this message at this time,” she said, praising his recent appeals for peace and human dignity.

The two leaders also met privately before proceeding to a chapel where they offered prayers in unison—an act widely seen as a gesture of unity despite longstanding theological differences.

In his remarks, Pope Leo acknowledged progress in Catholic–Anglican relations but cautioned against divisions that have emerged in recent decades.

“We must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together,” he said.

The Church of England split from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534 during the reign of Henry VIII, leading to centuries of tension. However, relations have improved significantly in modern times through dialogue and cooperation.

Despite shared beliefs, differences remain—particularly over the ordination of women and clerical celibacy.

Mullally, who was installed as Archbishop in March, said she would remain united with the Pope in prayer, emphasising the importance of collaboration among Christians in addressing global challenges.

The meeting follows a series of recent efforts to deepen ties between the two traditions, including a historic joint prayer involving King Charles III and the Pope at the Vatican last year.

Source: Reuters