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Pope Leo XIV welcomed the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, to the Vatican on Monday, urging both churches to unite for more effective evangelism. This was Mullally’s first international trip since becoming the first woman to hold the top position in the Church of England last month.
During their papal audience, Pope Leo emphasised the importance of Christian unity, particularly in a world desperately in need of Christ’s peace.
“While our suffering world greatly needs the peace of Christ, the divisions among Christians weaken our capacity to be effective bearers of that peace,” he said, highlighting that divisions hinder the proclamation of the Gospel.
The pope reminded Mullally and her delegation that unity should be a central aim in evangelising, a theme he has consistently championed throughout his ministry. “If the world is to take our preaching to heart, we must, therefore, be constant in our prayers and efforts to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder the proclamation of the Gospel,” he added.
Pope Leo also reflected on the progress made between the two churches, particularly on historically divisive issues, though he noted that “new problems have arisen in recent decades,” without elaborating on specifics. Despite these ongoing challenges, he stressed the importance of seizing every opportunity to spread the message of Christ together.
Mullally, a former nurse and mother of two, acknowledged the pope’s call for unity while looking forward to further dialogue between the Catholic and Anglican Churches.
Her visit comes six months after King Charles III’s historic meeting with Pope Leo, marking a significant step towards reconciliation between the Church of England and the Vatican.
