During a meeting at the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV welcomed Sarah Mullally, marking their first encounter and renewing the Church’s call to unity among Christians. The meeting, which included prayer in the Urban VIII Chapel, highlighted the ongoing relationship between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.
Speaking during the Easter season, the Holy Father emphasized that the peace of the Risen Christ must shape how Christians respond to the world. “I have often mentioned that the peace of the risen Lord is ‘unarmed’,” he said, noting that Christ “always responded to violence and aggression in an unarmed way, inviting us to do likewise,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope warned that divisions among Christians weaken their witness. “If the world is to take our preaching to heart,” he said, “we must, therefore, be constant in our prayers and efforts to remove any stumbling blocks that hinder the proclamation of the Gospel,” according to Vatican News.
Reflecting on decades of ecumenical dialogue, Pope Leo XIV acknowledged both progress and ongoing challenges between Catholics and Anglicans. He pointed to continued theological discussions aimed at restoring “complete communion in faith and sacramental life,” while recognizing the complexity of unresolved issues.
Despite these challenges, the Pope urged both communities not to lose sight of their shared mission. “Nevertheless, we must not allow these continuing challenges to prevent us from using every possible opportunity to proclaim Christ to the world together,” he said, according to Vatican News.
Recalling the words of Pope Francis, he stressed the seriousness of division within Christianity. It “would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfill our common vocation to make Christ known,” he said, according to Vatican News. Pope Leo added his own call to perseverance, saying, “it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear.”
The meeting also recalled the historic relationship between the two Churches, including the encounter between Pope Paul VI and Michael Ramsey six decades ago, a milestone moment in modern ecumenical efforts.
Concluding the audience, Pope Leo XIV expressed gratitude for the visit and encouraged continued dialogue and friendship. He prayed that Catholics and Anglicans may move forward together, guided by the Holy Spirit, in their shared mission to bring Christ’s message to the world.
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