A Common Declaration has been issued by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Pope Francis as part of a week long summit between Anglican and Catholic bishops.
The summit aims to discover new ways where, on the basis of the agreed statements of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), Catholics and Anglicans can give greater witness to their common faith and how they can collaborate in mission.
Archbishop @justinwelby gives Cross of Nails to @Pontifex as symbol of reconciliation partnership: https://t.co/a2ARM0I0DY pic.twitter.com/OB1xTUasdy
— Lambeth Palace ن (@lambethpalace) October 5, 2016
The Common Declaration recognises that ‘much progress’ has been made concerning many areas that have kept the two denominations apart but new disagreements have arisen, such as the ordination of women and questions regarding human sexuality. It states that ‘while, like our predecessors, we ourselves do not yet see solutions to the obstacles before us, we are undeterred’, saying that these hurdles ‘cannot prevent us from recognising one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism…these differences must not lead to a lessening of our ecumenical endeavours.’
It concludes that ‘the world must see us witnessing to this common faith in Jesus by acting together’ while ‘we are impatient for progress that we might be fully united in proclaiming, in word and deed, the saving and healing gospel of Christ to all people. ‘
The full declaration between Pope Francis and Justin Welby is available on the Archbishop of Canterbury website. Details of the summit are on the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue website.
