From Rome to Canterbury, Catholic and Anglican Bishops work toward Christian unity and joint mission

 

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury celebrating vespers on 25 January, 2024  (ANSA)

CHURCH

Anglican and Catholic Bishops unite in call for unity and mission

Anglican and Catholic Bishops emphasize the fruitful ecumenical journey towards reconciliation at the conclusion of the IARCCUM summit, expressing their desire to work toward Christian unity while addressing global challenges.

By Francesca Merlo

"Our Common Witness, Calling, and Commitment", is the title of a press release by the Anglican and Catholic bishops, released on 1 February, after participating in the ecumenical summit "Growing Together".

In the text, the bishops express a resolute call for unity and a shared mission. Their declaration follows a week-long gathering from January 22-29, where bishops convened in Rome and Canterbury to discuss joint mission and witness.

The summit

The summit, organised by the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM), drew support from the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in Rome and the Anglican Communion Office, Secretariat to the Anglican Communion.

The bishops, attending during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, represented 27 countries globally and were commissioned by Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury during Vespers at the basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls in Rome.

Walking together

"After four centuries of conflict and separation, the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion have now been on a walk towards reconciliation for almost six decades. At times, the path has been bumpy, but the Holy Spirit has been at work and our churches have persevered in a dialogue which has been extraordinarily fruitful," the statement reads.

The bishops recognise the joy and life found in their communion in Christ, emphasising its deep and profound nature. The IARCCUM bishops committed to building on the fruitful dialogue, bridging the gap between shared faith elements and their tangible expression in ecclesial lives.

Echoing Pope Francis' call

In the four areas of Witness, Friendship, Mission, and Synodality, the bishops urge the Church to prioritise relationships. They echo Pope Francis's call to put "first our brothers and sisters, then the structures."

"Synodality is not merely about the Church’s governance; it is about putting relationships at the centre of the Church’s life," the statement asserts, referencing the words of Pope Francis during their commissioning at St Paul's outside the Walls in Rome: "First our brothers and sisters, then the structures."

Addressing the urgent climate crisis, the bishops emphasize the need to care for our common home, echoing Pope Francis's Encyclical on the Environment (Laudato si') and the Lambeth Call on the Environment and Sustainable Development issued by Anglican bishops during the 2022 Lambeth Conference.

The bishops conclude their statement with a commitment to proclaim the Good News of peace in places affected by ongoing wars. As they return to their local churches, they pray that their ministry alongside one another as Catholics and Anglicans will be a foretaste of the reconciling of all Christians in the unity of the one and only Church of Christ.