Pope Leo XIV to Welcome New 1st Female Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury to the Vatican in Historic April Meeting
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Pope Leo XIV to Welcome New Archbishop of Canterbury in Historic April Meeting
In a significant step for ecumenical relations, Pope Leo XIV is set to receive the Most Revd Dame Sarah Mullally at the Vatican during her upcoming visit to Rome from 25 to 28 April.
The announcement follows just two days after Archbishop Mullally’s historic installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion.
A Milestone for Unity
The news of the April summit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the 1966 Common Declaration—the landmark agreement signed by Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey that first opened formal dialogue between the two churches.
To mark the occasion, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, traveled to Canterbury Cathedral on March 26. During a joint prayer service, he presented the new Archbishop with a personal letter from Pope Leo XIV, offering his blessings for her new ministry.
Key Highlights of the Exchange
A Message of "Truth and Love": The Pope’s letter emphasized a continued commitment to dialogue and spiritual partnership.
The Archbishop’s Response: In a statement from Lambeth Palace, Archbishop Mullally expressed deep gratitude, stating she is called to be an "instrument of communion" and seek the "full and visible unity" of the global church.
Strengthening Ties: The upcoming meeting in Rome aims to build upon the "bonds of friendship" established over the last six decades.
"Your words of encouragement and your invocation of the Holy Spirit's guidance are received with profound appreciation." — Archbishop Sarah Mullally to Pope Leo XIV
Looking Ahead
This visit marks one of the Archbishop’s first major international diplomatic engagements. It signals a shared desire between the Vatican and Lambeth Palace to maintain a high-level partnership despite the evolving landscape of global Christianity.
Archbishop Mullally’s Thanks
A statement released by Lambeth Palace said the Archbishop thanked the Pope for his prayers and assured him of her own.
“I am deeply grateful for your gracious letter and for the assurance of your prayers at the time of my installation as Archbishop of Canterbury,” she wrote. “Your words of encouragement and your invocation of the Holy Spirit's guidance, are received with profound appreciation.”
“As Archbishop of Canterbury,” Mullally continued in her message to Pope Leo XIV, “I too am called to serve as an instrument of communion within the Anglican Communion, and to seek the full and visible unity to which our Lord has called us all.”
Concluding, she added: “I very much look forward to meeting Your Holiness in the near future and to continuing to strengthen the bonds of friendship and our shared commitment.”
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