Sarah Mullally, First Female Archbishop of Canterbury, Meets Pope Leo XIV
Sarah Mullally, the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, is meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican this weekend. The historic visit runs from April 25-28 as part of efforts to strengthen relations between Anglican and Catholic churches.
Sarah Mullally made history as the first woman to become Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of 85 million Anglican Christians worldwide. This weekend, she's breaking new ground again with her visit to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
The April 25-28 visit represents a significant moment for Christian unity. The Anglican Church split from the Catholic Church in the 16th century when England's King Henry VIII broke with Rome. Since then, the two churches have had a complicated relationship.
Mullally's appointment as Archbishop already stirred debate since the Catholic Church does not ordain women as priests. Her meeting with the Pope signals both churches want to focus on common ground rather than differences.
The visit comes as both churches face declining membership in Western countries while growing in Africa and Asia. Leaders from both faiths have been working more closely on issues like climate change, poverty, and social justice.
This marks the first time a female leader of the Anglican Church has met with a Pope. The meeting could reshape how the world's two largest Christian denominations work together on global issues affecting millions of believers.
Watch for joint statements on shared priorities after the April 28 meeting concludes.
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