Catholics and Anglicans to make joint pilgrimage

Thirty-six bishops from Catholic and Anglican communities around the world are to embark on a pilgrimage to Canterbury and Rome, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the start of dialogue between the two Churches, according to Vatican Insider.

Dialogue officially began with the joint declaration signed by Paul VI and the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, in 1966.

The initiative was promoted by IARCCUM, the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, which was established in 2000 as a pastoral point of reference in the dialogue between Rome and Canterbury.

The bishops – who form part of this official body and hail from 18 different countries – will be going on the pilgrimage that will conclude in Rome on the afternoon of October 5.

Pope Francis and Anglican Primate Justin Welby will celebrate a liturgy to mark the end of the pilgrimage. 

Prelates will be travelling together, from Canterbury, where they will spend the first leg of this joint journey “to discover new ways on the basis of the agreed statements,” as they put it.