Pope Leo XIV received Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion, in the Vatican this Monday, in a meeting marked by ecumenical dialogue and the doctrinal tensions that continue to separate Catholics and Anglicans.
The visit is also preceded by the controversial episode in the Clementine Chapel regarding the presence and public gestures of Mullally in Vatican spheres.
Leo XIV Recognizes Advances and New Difficulties
In the speech delivered during the meeting, disseminated by the Holy See, the Pontiff recalled the long path traveled in ecumenical dialogue since the historic meeting between St. Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1966.
That moment initiated a process of theological dialogue that continues to this day.
Leo XIV acknowledged that advances have been made in issues that for centuries had been a cause of division.
However, he warned that in recent decades new problems have arisen that make it more difficult to discern the path toward full communion, an implicit reference to doctrinal and disciplinary debates that also affect the Anglican Communion.
A Context Marked by Doctrinal Tensions
The figure of Sarah Mullally is not unfamiliar with these tensions.
Her appointment as the first woman at the head of the Anglican Communion has generated internal divisions, especially in sectors that reject women’s ordination and her positions on issues such as blessings for same-sex couples or the pastoral approach toward the LGBT community.
These issues, along with other historical differences, form part of the background to which the Pope alluded when speaking of the “new problems” that have arisen in ecumenical dialogue.
Call for Unity Despite the Differences
Despite these difficulties, Leo XIV emphasized that they should not become an obstacle to the common proclamation of the Gospel.
The Pope insisted that division among Christians weakens their witness in a world that needs the peace of Christ.
In this sense, he took up words from Pope Francis in 2024, who warned that it would be a scandal if divisions prevented fulfilling the common vocation of making Christ known.
The Pontiff added that it would also be scandalous to abandon the effort to overcome differences, even when they seem difficult to resolve, thereby reaffirming the Holy See’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue.
A Meeting in Continuity with Ecumenical Dialogue
Mullally’s visit to Rome, which takes place from April 25 to 28, is part of a series of meetings aimed at strengthening relations between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
The meeting in the Vatican also included a moment of joint prayer.