Pope Leo XIV Prays with Archbishop of Canterbury in Historic Vatican Meeting

Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally prayed together at the Vatican on Monday, April 27, 2026. The meeting was the first between the two leaders since Pope Leo's election and marked a significant moment in Catholic-Anglican relations.

The two leaders discussed longstanding theological differences between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Both expressed a desire to move toward greater unity, though no specific agreements were announced.

The Vatican described the encounter as warm and substantive. Archbishop Mullally, the first woman to hold the position of Archbishop of Canterbury, said the meeting gave her hope for continued dialogue.

Pope Leo XIV has made interfaith engagement a priority since taking office. Earlier this month, he urged an end to what he called the "madness of war" as U.S.-Iran talks stalled. He also appointed a former undocumented migrant from El Salvador as the new Catholic bishop of West Virginia.

The meeting with Mullally drew attention from Christian communities worldwide. Observers noted that the Catholic-Anglican relationship has been strained in recent years over issues including the ordination of women and same-sex blessings. Both leaders acknowledged those differences but said they would not prevent cooperation on shared concerns such as poverty, climate, and peace.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Rome in the coming days to ease tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration following public disagreements over the U.S. war with Iran.