Picture: Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, has praised Pope Leo XIV for speaking out against injustice after the pair’s historic meeting at the Vatican.
Dame Sarah, the first woman to lead the Church of England, met the pontiff at the Apostolic Palace on Monday and told him he would receive a “warm welcome” if he were to visit the United Kingdom.
In an address following a private discussion between the two religious leaders, she said they were united in prayer for justice and for “peace in our world”.
The meeting comes after the Pope warned earlier this month that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” as he criticised the cost of war during a visit to Cameroon.
Dame Sarah said: “Your Holiness, you have spoken powerfully about the many injustices in our world today, but you have spoken even more powerfully about hope.”
The encounter follows recent criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who accused the Pope of being “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy”.
Pope Leo XIV had also voiced concerns over tensions involving Iran and warnings that escalation could have devastating global consequences, while continuing to advocate dialogue and restraint.
The pontiff reiterated that he would continue to “speak out loudly against war” and promote peace.
Dame Sarah added that the Pope’s message “reminded us that despite our sufferings, people long for life in all its fullness and countless people are working each day for this vision of the common good”.
She also told him that Charles III had “valued his recent visit”, recalling their meeting in October when they prayed together, a symbolic moment marking the first time a British monarch had joined in public worship with the head of the Catholic Church since the Reformation.
Dame Sarah reiterated: “Please be assured of a warm welcome from the Church of England should you honour the United Kingdom with a visit.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church, recently returned from a trip to Africa, which the Archbishop described as “full of life and joy.”
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Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Leo XIV, Donald Trump, America, UK,
