Archbishop of Canterbury Prays With Pope Leo at the Vatican in Historic Meeting
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- The Most Rev. Sarah Mullally, the first female leader of the Anglican Communion, prayed at the Vatican with Pope Leo XIV, symbolizing female ecclesiastical authority in contrast to the male-only priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church.
- This historic meeting highlighted both unity between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches, which split nearly 500 years ago, and ongoing differences, particularly regarding the ordination of women.
- The Church of England has ordained women since the 1990s, culminating in Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, while the Vatican continues to restrict ordination to men and has repeatedly tabled discussions on female ordination.
- Pope Leo acknowledged ongoing challenges between the two denominations and emphasized the importance of working to overcome differences despite their complexity.
- For Catholic advocates of women’s ordination, Mullally’s reception as the pope’s equal serves as a powerful example of potential progress within the Catholic Church.
