Anglican Head, Pope Stress Desire for Closer Ties

By Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Sat, Sep. 18 2010

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams on Friday welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to Lambeth Palace where they discussed unity and the challenges Christians face in culture.

It was the first time in history that a pontiff visited the Archbishop of Canterbury's official London residence.

The Anglican and Roman Catholic heads shared warm words as they expressed their desire to build closer relations.

"As bishops, we are servants of the unity of Christ's people, Christ's one Body," said Williams in his address Friday. "And, meeting as we do as bishops of separated church communities, we must all feel that each of our own ministries is made less by the fact of our dividedness, a very real but imperfect communion."

The historic papal visit comes after a number of Anglicans left the Anglican Communion and joined the Catholic Church. Last year, Pope Benedict invited Anglicans who were discontent with the liberal direction of the global body to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church while preserving their Anglican traditions – including married priests. The pope issued an apostolic constitution, providing Vatican guidelines for disaffected Anglicans to enter their fold.
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Church Times: Pope and Dr Williams find accord at Lambeth Palace
IN a historic meeting on Friday, Pope Benedict XVI became the first pope to visit Lambeth Palace. There he addressed the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, as well as diocesan bishops from the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope was greeted with a warm round of applause in the Great Hall of the Archbishop’s Library at Lambeth Palace.

After an opening prayer, the Archbishop of Canterbury “recalled with great gratitude” the improved relations between the two churches during the past 50 years...

Joint communiqué concerning the meeting between the Holy Father and the Archbishop of Canterbury