The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, visited Rome from October 3-6, and was based  at the Anglican Centre in Rome during his stay.

The Archbishop held a number of meetings at the Centre, accompanied by the Director, Archbishop Ian Ernest. On Wednesday October 6 Archbishop Welby received both the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Catholicos of All Armenians.

His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, shared with the Archbishop the latest news from Armenia in the aftermath of the 2020 war with Azerbaijan. Among those who accompanied His Holiness were Sahak II Mashalian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See.

 

His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, accompanied by Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and others, discussed with the Archbishop of Canterbury a number of matters of mutual concern, including climate change. Both Archbishop Welby and the Patriarch had been present at the launch of an appeal by a group of multi-faith leaders ahead of COP-26. For more information read here

 

In September the Partriach and Archbishop Welby with Pope Francis, issued the first ever joint statement by the holder of these three ancient offices. Read about it here

 

The Revd Dr Will Adam, Deputy Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, who was present at this week’s meetings said: “The Anglican Centre in Rome is a home for Anglicans from around the world visiting Rome. It is the base for the Director, who is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s personal representative to the Holy See, and for 55 years has been a place of encounter, learning and prayer. The meetings that took place there this week were significant and historic, building up the relationships between Anglicans and other churches around the world”.