Pope Leo XIV Meets Archbishop of Canterbury, Vows to Continue Efforts Toward Christian Unity

Pope Leo XIV met with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, at the Vatican this week, and the two leaders prayed together and pledged to keep working toward greater unity between their churches.

The meeting is the first between Leo XIV and Mullally since Leo XIV was elected pope. The two discussed ongoing theological differences between the Catholic and Anglican traditions, as well as areas of shared concern including poverty, conflict, and the care of creation.

A Vatican statement said both leaders "vowed to continue efforts to overcome differences" and expressed hope for deeper cooperation on practical matters even where full theological agreement remains out of reach.

The Archbishop of Canterbury leads the worldwide Anglican Communion, which includes the Church of England and affiliated churches in more than 165 countries. Relations between Rome and Canterbury have been strained at times over issues including the ordination of women and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Mullally, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 2023, has emphasized dialogue and pastoral care as priorities of her tenure. She said after the meeting that she was encouraged by the spirit of the conversation.

The meeting comes as a new report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows church attendance rising in the United States for the first time in decades. Both Catholic and Protestant leaders have pointed to the data as a sign of renewed interest in faith.

Leo XIV has made international dialogue a focus of his early papacy, meeting with leaders from multiple faith traditions since taking office.