Friday, November 12, 2010

Anglican leader to visit Vatican: report

Anglican leader Rowan Williams will travel to the Vatican next week, Vatican radio reported on Wednesday, following the departure of five Anglican bishops to the Roman Catholic Church.

Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the world's Anglicans, is to visit on November 17 for the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, the radio station's documentation service said.

His visit comes after the Roman Catholic Church on Monday announced that five Church of Anglican bishops were to convert to Catholicism under a controversial offer from Pope Benedict XVI to accept Anglicans disgruntled with their church.
A major meeting of Catholic cardinals in the Vatican on November 19 will also discuss Anglican conversions, as well as sexual abuse by clergymen.

William met with Benedict last year amid tensions over the Vatican's offer, which is aimed at Anglicans disaffected by gay marriage and women priests.

SIC: BT/AUS