...as Pope Francis met Dr Justin Welby in Rome today. We can rejoice that animosities from 4 centuries ago have given way to friendship and neighbourliness...it is possible, and crucial, to affirm truth with kindness and courtesy. The whole mood was one of great goodwill and mutual respect. Worth reading media reports of this meeting. Note in particular the Vatican News Service report...
Pope Francis spoke beautifully about the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, giving clear support: just the right message
Yesterday evening, there was a beautiful Ordinariate Evensong held at Brompton Oratory...the first time that Evensong in the Anglican rite has been sung there. Afterwards, a reception was held and writer Charles Moore spoke: he mentioned the forthcoming meeting between Pope Francis and Dr Welby...I think it is a nice piece of Providence that the two events came together like this, as it hadn't been planned...
There are pitfalls and huge possibilities for awkwardness ahead, but we need to be courteous and friendly, and cherish all possible goodwill.
I am not impressed by attempts to suggest that official encounters emphasising goodwill and politeness between Anglicans and Catholics are wrong or silly. On the contrary, in this often ugly world, it's simply heartening to see some decent friendship. Let's keep on...
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