Anglican Head to Visit Pope as Hopes Rise for Unity Among Churches
The spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams is expected to make his first formal visit to Roman Catholic Church head, Pope Benedict in Rome this year.
Posted: Tuesday, March 14 , 2006, 9:58 (UK)

The spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Dr Rowan Williams is expected to make his first formal visit to Roman Catholic Church head, Pope Benedict in Rome this year.

The motive behind the visit is to heal a rift that has existed between the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches for centuries.It is reported that the two leaders will attend at least one service together, however, the meeting remains to be confirmed by the Vatican. The joining of the two Church heads will be used to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the meeting in 1966, between Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Ramsey, who was the 100th Archbishop of Canterbury.

During that visit the Pope gave a ring to Dr Ramsey, which has been passed on from Archbishop to Archbishop, and remains with Dr Williams today.Britain’s senior Catholic Church leaders have openly admitted that relations between the two Churches has seemed to have reached a “plateau”. However, many are hoping that the present meeting could bring about a new ecumenical era between the Churches. The rest