Pope Francis discussed patient and fraternal dialogue on papal primacy during a meeting with the Anglican clergy, including Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury.
The meeting, part of the Anglican Communion’s 2024 Primates Meeting—the first in Rome—addressed longstanding theological issues, focusing on cooperation and understanding.
“Since then, we have had many occasions to meet, to pray together, and to testify to our faith in the Lord. Dear brother Justin, thank you for this cooperation on behalf of the Gospel!” the pontiff said.
Addressing the role of the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis acknowledged the divisiveness surrounding papal authority among Christians.
He cited Pope Gregory the Great, emphasizing the foundational principle of the papacy, “servus servorum Dei, or ‘servant of the servants of God’,” to highlight that papal authority must align with service to the Christian community.
“For this reason, it is necessary to engage in ‘a patient and fraternal dialogue on this subject, a dialogue which, leaving useless controversies behind, strives to understand how the Petrine ministry can develop as a service of love for all’,” he said.
Pope Francis also referred to lessons from the early Church, as shown in the Acts of the Apostles, noting that the first Christians experienced disagreements and tensions.
He emphasized the importance of being guided by the Holy Spirit: “We are called to pray and to listen to one another, seeking to understand each other’s concerns and asking ourselves … whether we have been docile to the promptings of the Spirit, or prey to our own personal or group opinions.”
