At the end of April 2026, the newly installed 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, made her official visit to the Holy See. While in Rome, she was received in a private audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday, April 27, where the two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to Christian unity during this Paschal season.
This commitment to unity was put into practice throughout the weekend across Rome. For many of us at The Lay Centre, the Archbishop’s visit became a lived experience rather than an event watched from afar. Natalie Nitsch, a Lay Centre resident currently working in the Vatican Library, is herself Anglican and volunteered at several events during the busy itinerary.
The visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to Rome carried deep historical resonance, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of both the Anglican Centre in Rome and the landmark 1966 meeting between Saint Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey. In his official address, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that while the ecumenical journey faces complex, modern challenges, the pursuit of unity must remain unwavering.
Invoking his predecessor, Pope Francis, the Pontiff warned that it would be a scandal if Christian divisions hindered the proclamation of the Gospel. “For my part, I add that it would also be a scandal if we did not continue to work towards overcoming our differences, no matter how intractable they may appear,” Pope Leo XIV declared. He noted that this relentless pursuit of unity is the core of his own ministry, reflected in his episcopal motto: In Illo uno unum, “In the One—that is Christ—we are one.”
A Distinct Leadership Structure
As an Anglican living in Rome, Natalie notes that the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury is structurally distinct from any office within Roman Catholicism.
“The Anglican Communion is made up of numerous autocephalous member churches, each with their own presiding bishop or primate,” she explains. Her own church, the American Episcopal Church, is headed by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury is considered by Anglican Christians to be primus inter pares, or first among equals, and he or she has only spiritual authority outside of the Church of England. Nevertheless, the Archbishop is still a relevant uniting figure for Anglicans around the world.”
The nature of the appointment also highlights shifting dynamics within the global communion. “Archbishop Mullally’s appointment is especially significant to Anglicans who support the ordination of women, myself included,” Natalie notes.
Events and Ministry Across Rome
Beyond the Vatican audience, the Archbishop’s itinerary included a mix of official duties and pastoral ministry. She officially commissioned Bishop Antony Ball as her permanent representative to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. Her schedule also included visits to Christian social outreach projects across the city and presiding over services at Rome’s two Anglican parishes, St. Paul’s-within-the-Walls and All Saints.
Additionally, she attended a Choral Evensong service at the Roman Catholic Church of Sant’Ignazio, where Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle preached.
Natalie’s volunteer work allowed her to observe the Archbishop during these various events, including parish services where Archbishop Mullally baptized two babies and a young girl.
Personal Encounters and Impressions
During the weekend, Natalie spoke briefly with the Archbishop on two occasions and had a longer conversation with her husband, Mr. Eamon Mullally. Despite a demanding schedule, the Archbishop asked about Natalie’s experience as an Anglican in Rome and her work at the Vatican Library.
“Above all, I was struck by her humility, normality, and efficiency,” Natalie reflects. “All crucial traits for any religious leader, especially one who is tasked with resolving, or at least soothing, such deep divisions as currently exist in the Anglican Communion.”
The Lay Centre’s Commitment to Unity
Dr. Donna Orsuto, Co-founder & Senior Advisor of The Lay Centre, met with the Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at the Anglican Centre in Rome, and shared about our longstanding commitment to Christian Unity.
For over 40 years, The Lay Centre has welcomed students and residents from around the world studying in Rome, fostering community, dialogue, and friendship among Christians of different traditions. Ecumenism remains at the heart of our mission as we continue to build bridges of faith, understanding, and communion.
