ARCHBISHOP JOHN BATHERSBY of Brisbane is co-chair of IARCCUM, the International Anglican Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, and attended an historic meeting in Rome last month between the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, and Pope Benedict XVI. He wrote this special report for The Catholic Leader
Archbishop Rowan Williams’ visit to Rome from November 21-24, accompanied by his wife Jane and son Pip, was both symbolic and effective.
It celebrated the 40 years of renewed relationship between the Anglican and the Roman Catholic Communions begun with the visit of Archbishop Michael Ramsey to Pope Paul VI in 1966.
As co-chair of IARCCUM (International Anglican and Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission), I was privileged to share the occasion with other co-chairs of IARCCUM and ARCIC (Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission), as well as a number of Anglican and Roman Catholic representatives from our respective offices.
While all the meetings were important, the most important were undoubtedly the informal talks between the two communions on November 22, and the meetings with the Pope, both private and public, on the next day with the signing of a common declaration of agreement followed by prayer together.
At the informal talks led by Archbishop Williams and Cardinal Kasper it was agreed that the meetings of ARCIC and IARCCUM should continue into the future, probably beginning after the Lambeth Conference in 2008.
In the meantime, working meetings would take place to plan a way forward for both bodies.
At the meeting the discussion also took place about the final paper on Mary produced by ARCIC in 2005, and the statement of agreement from IARCCUM “Growing Together in Unity and Mission” that will probably be released in 2007 after it has been officially received by both communions.
A great spirit of friendship existed between the participants at the informal talks.
The meeting with Pope Benedict on November 23 and the mutual signing by the two leaders of a common declaration of agreement followed by shared prayer in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican, was a highlight of the week. The common declaration acknowledged that “True ecumenism goes beyond theological dialogues: it touches our spiritual lives and our common witness”.
At the same time the declaration did not avoid the present reality of the relationship when it publicly acknowledged “the challenge presented by new developments”.
It went on to recognise that “There are many areas of witness and service in which we can stand together, and which indeed called for closer co-operation”.
A spirit of optimism and a determination about future relations featured in the declaration, as well as an acknowledgment of the reality of the pressures existing at the present time.
Many other events that took place during the week were significant – Archbishop Rowan Williams’ major addresses on the evening of November 21 at San Anselmo, “St Benedict and the future of Europe”, and his address on November 23 at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, “Secularism, Freedom and Faith”.
Other events organised during the week were both educational and entertaining.
They included the visits to the Basilicas of St Peter, Mary Major and the Lateran, a visit to the splendid new museum in the Colonnade of St Peter’s, the visit to the Anglican Centre in Rome, the official reception at the Palazzo Doria Pamphily, the visit to the San Egidio Community at St Bartholomew’s on the island in the Tiber, the liturgy at St Maria Sopra Minerva, and the visit to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of People.
At the latter I was particularly touched when Cardinal Diaz spoke warmly of the importance of Cardinal Newman, who had lived at the centre some years earlier and whose motto “Cor Ad Cor Loquitur” – “Heart speaks to heart” was a sentiment needed more than ever at the present time.
It was a touching moment in a crowded week that reminded us, despite the separation between our two communions, how our hearts in love with Jesus Christ bring us together and help us recognise how much we share in common.
Although the week was impossibly busy, there were lighter moments – the Anglican and Catholic bishops dressed in their colourful soutanes, striding purposely through the crowded Roman streets each morning to catch the mini bus at the distant English College, was one.
An irate Roman driver lowered his windows one morning to tell us exactly what he thought of us.
Another thrill was travelling at breakneck speed in the mini bus accompanied by police escorts with flashing blue lights who stopped traffic to get us to various appointments on time. The drivers, who could judge a difficult situation to the fraction of a millimetre, were brilliant. Somehow we all survived.
Despite the symbolism and discussion of the occasion, perhaps the most powerful aspect of the week may yet prove to be those occasions when, gathered on our knees in silence and prayer together, we asked God for the unity desired by Christ.
I have no doubt the Holy Spirit was listening.
