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Source: Anglicannews.org

Photy Credit:  Anglican Communion news service

Five Anglican Primates of the Anglican Communion attended an audience with Pope Leo XIV today and heard his deep commitment to Church unity.

The meeting was held at the Vatican in the Apostolic Palace, where Pope Leo XIV received in audience the representatives of other Churches and ecclesial communities, and of other religions, present in Rome for the Eucharistic Celebration for the beginning of his Petrine Ministry.

The five Anglican Primates were the Most Revd Leonard Dawea, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and a participant on IARCCUM (The International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission); the Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York and Primate of England; the Most Revd John McDowell, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd Sean Rowe, the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church and the Most Revd Dr Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. They were accompanied by the Rt Revd Anthony Ball, Director for the Anglican Centre in Rome.

In an address given during the meeting, Pope Leo expressed a deep commitment to church unity and his intention to continue the emphasis of Pope Francis on universal fraternity. His address stated: "My election has taken place during the year of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. That Council represents a milestone in the formulation of the Creed shared by all Churches and Ecclesial Communities.  While we are on the journey to re-establishing full communion among all Christians, we recognise that this unity can only be unity in faith. As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."

Pope Leo’s address also appealed for peace and justice, saying: "In a world wounded by violence and conflict, each of the communities represented here brings its own contribution of wisdom, compassion and commitment to the good of humanity and the preservation of our common home. I am convinced that if we are in agreement, and free from ideological and political conditioning, we can be effective in saying 'no' to war and 'yes' to peace, 'no' to the arms race and 'yes' to disarmament, 'no' to an economy that impoverishes peoples and the Earth and 'yes' to integral development."

Speaking about their meeting with Pope Leo, the Archbishop of York said:

"It is clear to me, that he longs for the unity of God's Church and sees working for that unity as one of his priorities, so that the world may believe. I look forward to continuing the work we have been doing to increase the co-operation and understanding between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches."

The Rt Revd Anthony Ball is Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, which is the permanent representation of the Anglican Communion in Rome, and coordinates ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church and other traditions. Speaking about the Pope’s address, Bishop Anthony said:

"It was a joy to meet with Pope Leo today, along with other ecumenical and faith groups. In his address, Pope Leo was clear about his intention to promote ecumenical relations and work for greater unity. At the Anglican Centre in Rome we are deeply committed to our friendship and dialogue with the Catholic Church as we work towards the full unity of Christ's church."