Anglican leader thanks Pope Francis for his example and teaching
October 07, 2016
Addressing Pope Francis during an October 6 meeting, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury thanked Pope Francis for his example, leadership, and teaching on a wide range of issues, including poverty, human trafficking, and climate change.
“Your letters and encyclicals have spoken far beyond Rome and her church, in a manner which is universal,” said the Anglican leader, who lamented “religiously motivated violence, affecting most, probably even all, of the great world faiths.”
“Secular values disregard the unborn, especially those with disabilities, and discard the aged,” he continued. “Facing all these perils, and a million more, is the body of Christ, the church, against which, as was promised to St Peter, the gates of hell shall not prevail.”
“In our disunity we grieve the Spirit of God, and we damage every aspect of our lives in Christ,” the Anglican primate added. “Your Holiness, I ask that, as we have seen in these two days, despite those things that divide, we may be publicly determined to press forward where we may, together with all other Christians, especially those of the Orthodox world and the east.”
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Further information:
- Archbishop Justin's address to Pope Francis (Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Meeting Anglican primates, Pope bids more prayers for unity (CWN, 10/6)
- Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury sign joint pledge to work for unity (CWN, 10/5)
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