Archbishop Rowan in Rome

A few days before the announcement of his retirement at the end of 2012, Archbishop Rowan Williams spent the weekend in Rome.

On Saturday March 10, Archbishop Rowan joined in prayer with Pope Benedict XVI at Vespers in the Monastery of S Gregorio Magno al Celio. After a private meeting earlier in the day, the Archbishop and the Pope travelled together to San Gregorio to join the resident monastic Community and guests for Vespers (evening prayer).

During the service the Archbishop and the Pope each delivered a homily before lighting candles together in the Chapel of St Gregory the Great.

The occasion formed part of the year-long celebrations of the 1,000th anniversary of the Camaldolese (Benedictine) monastic family. They had invited the Archbishop to Rome in recognition of the close connection of S Gregorio with the Church of England and hence the world-wide Anglican Communion.

On Sunday morning 11 March the Archbishop celebrated and preached at a Eucharist at The Episcopal Church of St Paul’s ‘within the walls’ where he was greeted by the new Rector Father Austin Ross. 

In the afternoon Archbishop Rowan returned to San Gregorio Magno to continue the millennial celebration of the Camaldoli at a conference where he delivered an address entitled ‘Monastic Virtues and Ecumenical Hopes’. Archbishop Rowan spoke alongside Father Robert Hale, Prior of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California.

On Monday 12 March the Archbishop travelled to visit the monastic Community at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, founded by St Benedict around 529, where he was present at Vespers and gave an address on ‘Monks and Mission: a perspective from England’. 

More photos of Vespers   and    at St Paul's    and   VIDEO produced by The Episcopal Church.