VATICAN CITY — Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally met Pope Leo XIV on Monday, April 27, 2026, during a visit to the Vatican that marked her first trip abroad since her installation as leader of the Church of England.
Mullally, the first woman to hold the position, arrived early for a private audience with the pope in his library.
The two leaders were later scheduled to move to the Urban VIII Chapel within the Apostolic Palace for what the Vatican described as a “moment of prayer.”
Pilgrimage and Meetings in Rome
The four-day visit was framed by Mullally as a pilgrimage and included visits to major basilicas in Rome, where she prayed at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul.
She also met with senior Vatican officials and Anglican communities in the city.
Lambeth Palace said the trip was intended “to strengthen Anglican–Roman Catholic relations through prayer, personal encounter, and formal theological dialogue.
It aims to deepen bonds of communion, affirm a shared witness, and encourage ongoing collaboration at both global and local levels.”
“As I prepare to make this pilgrimage, I know that I follow in the footsteps of those who have come before me, and I give thanks for the deepening dialogue and fellowship between Anglicans and Catholics over the last 60 years,” Mullally said in a statement released on April 24.
“It is a joy and privilege to meet and pray with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, and I look forward to our time of conversation and prayer.”
Historical Context and Continuing Differences
Relations between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches date back to a split in 1534, when King Henry VIII broke from Rome.
Formal dialogue between the two traditions began in the 1960s, including a landmark meeting in 1966 between Michael Ramsey and Pope Paul VI.
Despite decades of engagement, differences remain, particularly over the ordination of women.
The Church of England ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015. The Roman Catholic Church continues to reserve priesthood for men.
In a message sent after Mullally’s installation, Leo acknowledged both progress and ongoing challenges.
“We also know that the ecumenical journey has not always been smooth,” he wrote.
“Despite much progress, our immediate predecessors, Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby, acknowledged frankly that new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us.”
Divisions Within the Anglican Communion
Mullally’s appointment has drawn mixed reactions within the Anglican Communion, which comprises about 100 million members across 165 countries.
While some have welcomed her elevation as a milestone, others, particularly in more conservative regions, have opposed it.
A group known as the Global Anglican Future Conference has criticised her appointment and signalled the possibility of a break.
In the United States, the Anglican Church in North America has also aligned with that position.
Broader Engagement and Global Context
Mullally’s visit to Rome precedes a planned trip to Africa in July, where some Anglican leaders have questioned her authority as primate.
The Vatican meeting places her alongside one of the most prominent figures in global Christianity at an early stage in her tenure.
Recent interactions between the two churches have included a 2023 visit to South Sudan by Pope Francis and Justin Welby, which focused on peace efforts.
Mullally has also expressed support for Leo’s calls for peace in Iran, following criticism directed at the pope by Donald Trump.
In a separate engagement in October, Leo hosted King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Vatican, where they prayed together in the Sistine Chapel. Charles is the titular head of the Church of England.
“Our world needs the peace, justice and hope that Jesus Christ brings, and I give thanks that our churches can walk together as we share that good news with the world,” Mullally said.
