In the first meeting of all seven primates, leaders of the Anglican Communion, including senior archbishops, presiding bishops, and moderators, have gathered in Rome.
The 2024 Primates’ Meeting held from 29 April to 3 May was conceived as a pilgrimage. The Church leaders prayed and studied together, visited holy sites in Rome, and reflected together about the mission and witness of the Church in the world.
“The Primates’Meeting is an important time of pilgrimage and fellowship,” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said ahead of the gathering.
A historic meeting between Pope Francis and Anglican Communion primates was held on the last day of the Primates’ Meeting 2024.
“Together, we will discuss common priorities and challenges in the global mission and shared life of the Anglican Communion. The primates serve churches and communities around the world.
“Many come from settings where people are directly impacted by the instability of conflict, the challenge of climate crisis and the injustice of poverty. Together, we will pray for the needs of people and planet, the unity of God’s Church and the witness of the Anglican Communion.”
In the first gathering of Anglican primates to be held in Rome, the primates’ programme will include an historic meeting with Pope Francis and conversation with Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, about the meaning and promise of synodality for the whole Church.
The primates visited both St Peter’s Basilica and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (where St Paul the Apostle is buried), besides visits to Tre Fontane, Santa Maria in Trastevere, and the Community of Sant’Egidio.
The primates were due to meet in Rome in 2020 but the meeting was postponed due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The Primates’ Meeting is one of the ‘Instruments’ of the Anglican Communion, that works for unity amongst Anglican churches globally. The other instruments are The Anglican Consultative Council, The Lambeth Conference and The Archbishop of Canterbury.
