Pope and First Female Archbishop of Canterbury Meet at Vatican

Sarah Mullally , the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion , prayed at the Vatican on Monday with Pope Leo XIV in a meeting that underscored improving ties between the two churches while highlighting persistent divisions. The prayer took place in the Urban VIII Chapel inside the Apostolic Palace, during Mullally’s first foreign visit since her installation on March 25. In remarks following the encounter, Leo said dialogue between the churches must continue “no matter how intractable they may appear,” acknowledging longstanding theological differences. The Roman Catholic Church and the Ang

Sarah Mullally, the first woman to lead the Anglican Communion, prayed at the Vatican on Monday with Pope Leo XIV in a meeting that underscored improving ties between the two churches while highlighting persistent divisions.

The prayer took place in the Urban VIII Chapel inside the Apostolic Palace, during Mullally’s first foreign visit since her installation on March 25.

In remarks following the encounter, Leo said dialogue between the churches must continue “no matter how intractable they may appear,” acknowledging longstanding theological differences.

The Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, which has about 100 million members in 165 countries, have expanded cooperation in recent decades through ecumenical dialogue and joint initiatives.

However, key disagreements remain, particularly over the ordination of women. The Anglican Communion permits women to serve as priests and bishops, while the Catholic Church does not.

Mullally’s appointment has also exposed internal divisions within Anglicanism. In March, the Global Anglican Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans announced a break with the See of Canterbury, underscoring tensions within the global communion.

In a statement, Lambeth Palace said the visit aimed to “strengthen relationships” with the Vatican. Mullally also pointed to the pope’s recent engagement with African churches as an area of shared focus.

Despite doctrinal differences, Monday’s meeting reflected continued efforts by both sides to deepen cooperation while managing divisions that have shaped relations for centuries.