Archbishop of Canterbury meets Pope Francis for the first time

Pope Francis met the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, for the first time this morning.

In an address after the meeting the Pope emphasised their “shared ideas on the need for ethics in the economy and their obligation to speak on behalf of the poor and oppressed”, according to the American Catholic News Service.

He said Catholics and Anglicans “must work together to proclaim the Gospel and defend Christian values, including on marriage”.

Both leaders remarked on the coincidence of their March installations. Francis celebrated his inaugural Mass on March 19 two days before Justin Welby was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Before the meeting Archbishop Welby and his wife, Caroline, were expected to visit the tomb of St Peter beneath St Peter’s Basilica before stopping to pray at the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II.

Mgr Mark Langham, who is in charge of Anglican relations at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, told Vatican Radio earlier in the week: “Both have a particular interest in the economy and its effect on men and women around the world, on our responsibility to reach out to the marginalised and the poor and an interest that churches should be involved to make society a more Christ-like place.”