Pope Leo Meets First Female Archbishop Sarah Mullally at Vatican

VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo and the newly installed Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, held their first official meeting on Monday at the Vatican, marking a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England.

The encounter took place in the Apostolic Palace, where both leaders discussed issues affecting their respective denominations. The two churches have remained formally separated since the historic split of 1534.

Archbishop Mullally, the first woman to lead the global Anglican Communion representing about 85 million members, was received by Pope Leo, who leads the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The meeting included a private discussion before both leaders moved to a 17th-century chapel, where they joined in prayer.

According to Okay News, the joint prayer was seen as a symbolic gesture of unity despite long-standing theological differences.

In her remarks, Mullally praised Pope Leo’s recent Africa tour, during which he spoke strongly against war and authoritarian rule. She noted that his message had drawn global attention, including criticism from political leaders in the United States.

Pope Leo acknowledged that while relations between Catholics and Anglicans have improved over time, new doctrinal disagreements have emerged in recent decades. He pointed in general terms to issues such as the ordination of women and other modern reforms, but emphasized the need for continued cooperation and shared Christian witness.

Archbishop Mullally’s visit comes shortly after her historic appointment in March, which received mixed reactions within the global Anglican community, particularly from more conservative regions in Africa and Asia.