Pope Leo XIV Urges Catholics and Anglicans to Deepen Unity and Joint Mission

Pope Leo XIV meets Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, calling for renewed Catholic-Anglican cooperation, unity, and shared witness despite ongoing differences.

Newsroom (27/04/2026 Gaudium Press)  Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics and Anglicans to intensify their shared mission of proclaiming Christ to the world, urging continued efforts to overcome longstanding divisions during a historic meeting at the Vatican.

The Pope welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, on Monday at the Apostolic Palace. The encounter, marked by prayer in the Urban VIII Chapel, signaled a renewed commitment to ecumenical dialogue between the two Christian traditions.

Greeting Archbishop Mullally during the Easter season, Pope Leo reflected on the enduring significance of unity, recalling the landmark meeting 60 years ago between Pope St. Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey. He also acknowledged the ongoing work of the Anglican Centre in Rome and its director, Bishop Anthony Ball, who serves as a representative to the Holy See.

Central to the Pope’s message was the theme of Christ’s peace, which he described as “unarmed,” emphasizing that Jesus responded to violence without force. This model, he said, remains an essential guide for Christians today.

However, Pope Leo warned that divisions among Christians weaken their collective witness. “If the world is to take our preaching to heart,” he said, “we must be constant in our prayers and efforts to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder the proclamation of the Gospel.”

He noted that decades of theological dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans have yielded meaningful progress, particularly on issues that once sharply divided the two communities. At the same time, he acknowledged that many of these challenges persist, including those currently facing the Anglican Communion.

Despite these difficulties, the Pope stressed the importance of continuing collaboration. He echoed a 2024 message from Pope Francis, who warned that failure to fulfill a shared mission due to division would be a “scandal.”

Building on that sentiment, Pope Leo added that it would be equally troubling if Christians ceased striving to overcome their differences, regardless of how complex they may seem.

“We must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together,” he said.

Concluding the meeting, Pope Leo expressed gratitude for Archbishop Mullally’s visit and reaffirmed his hope that Catholics and Anglicans will continue walking a shared path of friendship, dialogue, and faith, guided by the Holy Spirit.

• Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News

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