Pope Leo XIV Meets Archbishop of Canterbury in Historic Vatican Encounter
Pope Leo XIV prayed with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at the Vatican on April 28, pledging to work through differences between the Catholic and Anglican churches. Mullally is the first woman to lead the Church of England. The meeting drew wide attention as a sign of renewed dialogue between the two traditions.
Pope Leo XIV met with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at the Vatican on April 28, 2026, in what observers called a historic encounter between the two Christian traditions.
The pope and the archbishop prayed together and vowed to keep working to overcome differences between the Catholic and Anglican churches, "no matter how intractable they may appear," according to a statement from the Vatican.
Mullally is the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual leader of the global Anglican Communion. Her meeting with the pope marked the first time a sitting pontiff has prayed alongside a female leader of the Church of England.
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, has made interfaith dialogue a priority since taking office. He has also spoken out against ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, urging ceasefires and calling on world leaders to stop what he described as the "madness of war."
The Vatican meeting lasted about an hour. Both leaders addressed reporters briefly afterward, with Mullally calling the encounter "a moment of genuine connection."
The Catholic and Anglican churches have been in formal dialogue since the 1960s, but significant theological differences remain, including on the ordination of women and questions of papal authority.
Church historians noted that the meeting carries symbolic weight beyond its immediate content. "These encounters matter," said one theologian who studies ecumenical relations. "They signal a willingness to keep talking."
No joint statement was issued, but both sides said they would continue conversations through existing ecumenical channels.
