Pope Francis meets Archbishop of Canterbury in Rome

Pope Francis has said divisions between Christian churches are a scandal caused by disagreement and human ambition.

In an audience with the Church of England’s Archbishop Justin Welby in Rome on June 16, the Pope said: “The goal of full unity may seem distant indeed, yet it remains the aim which should direct our every step along the way”.

The Pontiff cited the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism that said no obstacle should be placed to the “future promptings of the Holy Spirit” in the progress towards full Communion.

Pope Francis said he and the Archbishop of Canterbury must focus their joint witness on “prayer, peace and poverty”.

Earlier in his address Francis said he and the archbishop must “stand together” in combating human trafficking.

In his address to the Pope, Archbishop Welby called on the two Churches to work together to evangelise, and cited the Alpha course, which introduces people to Christianity, as an example.

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